Interesting English on eBay

[Daniel Hersh]

It's here. with serial number 35061 Someone more expert than me can interpret the ledger entry, on the following page:

 

Edited November 27, 2010 by Daniel Hersh

[wes williams]

Model 20B

Amb(oyna) G.(old) P(lated) ends, Gold 60 Keys and fit(ttings)

[Leonard]

31-6-38: Start or planning date for production

20B: Model number. The pricelists don't show a model 20B, but model 20 is a 48 keys Æola Baritone, 20A is 56 keys Æola Baritone. 20B: Æola Baritone with 60 keys?

Amb: Amboyna. The wood used to finish the sides of the ends.

GP ends: Gold plated metal ends.

Gold 60 keys + fit: keys and fitting (fingerplate + visible metal on the thumb strap) gold plated as well.

 

13-8-38: Production finished.

 

35061: Serial number.

[Leonard]

It really looks impressive.

 

Is special attention for the outside an indication for special inside quality: better reeds, action?

 

How is quality of 1938 instruments compared to those from the earlier "golden period"?

[Greg Jowaisas]

Wheatstones after #33301 will most likely have the bent over hook and arm action.

 

Although not as highly regarded as their rivet action a properly set up instrument of this type can play very well indeed.

 

Greg

[Ken_Coles]

Am I reading the dates wrong or have we had a calendar change? Where I live June only has 30 days! (well, in most years)

 

Ken

[Stephen Chambers]

It really looks impressive.

 

A beauty!

 

 

Is special attention for the outside an indication for special inside quality: better reeds, action?

 

Not in my experience, that's more down to the model, though Alf Edwards' May 1937 gilt Æola #34523 does have exceptionally good reeds...

 

 

How is quality of 1938 instruments compared to those from the earlier "golden period"?

 

The internal woodwork is usually plywood in the later ones, instead of solid maple, they have a hook action (as Greg has mentioned) and the reeds will be Lachenal's scaling.

[Greg Jowaisas]

and the reeds will be Lachenal's scaling.

 

 

Stephen,

Did Wheatstone do a switch from Aeola long scale reeds? Or is this unique to the baritone model? If it applies to treble Aeolas when would that have happened?

 

As always thank you for your erudition.

 

Greg

Edited November 27, 2010 by Greg Jowaisas

[Stephen Chambers]

and the reeds will be Lachenal's scaling.

 

 

Stephen,

Did Wheatstone do a switch from Aeola long scale reeds? Or is this unique to the baritone model? If it applies to treble Aeolas when would that have happened?

 

Greg,

 

They're still long-scale reeds, only different - Lachenal's tooling was better so Wheatstone's refettled it and started using it themselves in the mid-1930s. That's why their (and formerly Lachenal's) reed-slot cutter (ssen in action in the 1960 Concertina Factory newsreel clip, and still in use by Steve Dickinson) has a setting for 12-sided pans...

[Dieppe]

Bidding currently is at $7,100, with 3 hours left... *weep*

 

Patrick