Wes Merchant

I believe it's the Cabri Waltz p.19 The Waltz Book by bill Matthiesen.

Thanks to all, I greatly appreciate your input. It seems to be entirely playable so I plan on learning few tunes and at least I'll be able to offer more than just a shoulder shrug if somebody says"whats that"

Though, from what I can see so far, I'd strongly suspect it's going to look very much like Ken's early Bastari, or a Wizard Anglo on the inside. Thanks, Here are some photos of the insides:

thanks again , Here's some photos

Wes, I wouldn't spend too much on it, and I wouldn't worry too much about the sharpness in pitch as that would be normal on instruments made for the US market.

Stephen, Thanks I'll try to get some photos soon. Since I got it for free I wasn't looking particularly at value, but thought I might try learning a few tunes, though I've never played anything but string stuff. It seems playable, though somewhat sharp (A 443). It does indeed have the same brass mechanism and reed mounting as Kens I can see it through the end covers. Should I pull an end plate off for a photo? I guess I'd like to know if its worth shelling out a bit of cash to get it setup/ tuned up?.

Wes, You are asking about what is basically the commonest, and least expensive, of the 3-row models built by the firm variously known as Bastari (started in 1949 by Dr. Marcello Bastari), then Stagi and (since 1992) Brunner. This, their W-15 model, is still in production today and you can see it here in their catalogue: http://www.brunnermusica.com/concertine.htm But if it has the same brass mechanism, and the reeds are mounted the same way as in Ken's, then it's an early version. A photo is always a huge help with an enquiry like this...

One more difference I just noticed from the Bastari in the article, mine has eight folds instead of the five. All else (the stamping of the metal end plates, the bellows leather,etc match .

Thanks! Yes the Bastari seems the same except for the color of the straps, I have brown ones. There's no engraving on the metal.it's only Made in Italy in gold letters on the leather of the bellows. It came with a square brown case also marked made in Italy.

My sister gave me an old concertina, the only markings on it are "Made in Italy. Beyond that it is identical,as far as I can tell' to the one in this article. Would there be any hidden markings or serial numbers I should look for? http://www.concertina.net/kc_bastari.html