whats this?

[devonben]

Hello everyone, This is my first post but iv been looking on here for a while. Im new to the concertina my brother and dad are both musical (My dad having always played concertinaon my great grandfathers Aeola) but I never have been (always drawing instead). But at the age of 27, having never been able to connect with any instrument i find myself enthusiastically learning and practicing daily on my little mahogany tutor Lachenal.

 

Anyway I ramble.

The query i have is this, between us me and my dad have managed to find and purchase a metal ended treble pretty cheaply. It looks similar to a Lachenal new model but the fretwork looks different, so we'r not quite sure what it is maker wise. It hasn't arrived yet but there are pictures of it on the lisiting. (we didnt get it quite this cheap, the seller relisted it bu theres bettier pics of it on this one!)

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290609585636?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_500wt_1363

 

Looking forwrt to its arrival and seeing what work we can do carfully of course. It'l be the fourth concertina in the family!

 

Any ideas as to who it was made by would be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

(p.s. sorry for all the spelling mistakes Im madly Dyslexic!)

[Mike Franch]

I can't answer your concertina question but I can tell you that you communicate clearly and effectively.

[Geoff Wooff]

It looks as though the screws holding the little finger plate are all in a straight line... this would suggest it is a Wheatstone. But I could be wrong.

If the key leavers are rivetted to their suport (fulcrum) posts and if the keys (buttons) are made of wood that is covered by a metal cap this also will point to it being a Wheatstone.

 

So conversely if the keys are solid metal and the levers pivot through a slotted fulcrum post and those screw holes are not in a straight line this would all suggest it is a Lachenal... These being the two most likely Makers.

[devonben]

Thank you both!! I will closely inspect and photograph the action when it arrives (very exited) and keep you all posted!

[Dirge]

Thta thistley sort of motif at the bottom looks awfully familiar. Where are all the experts on this sort of thing?

[devonben]

"It looks as though the screws holding the little finger plate are all in a straight line... this would suggest it is a Wheatstone. But I could be wrong.

If the key leavers are rivetted to their suport (fulcrum) posts and if the keys (buttons) are made of wood that is covered by a metal cap this also will point to it being a Wheatstone."

 

Thanks Chatty concertinist! It arrived today! and based on your advise its looking like it may well be a Wheatstone since the action is rivetted and the buttons are wooden with metal caps.

 

Its going to need full restoration, the ebonised wood is chipped, alot of its pads have hardened and come adrift, and alot of the wood needs re-glueing, a few stuck buttons and metal caps needed for the buttons and more besides. That said its going to be a beutiful instument! when its restored!, Im very exhited in case you hadn't guessed!

 

We'r um-ing and Ahhr-ing as to weather we do a large proportion of it ourselves or not, both my dads boxes have been beutifully restored by Colin Dipper so that may well be the way to go. Stunning craftsmanship but he did wait years to get them back.

anyone have any ideas as to other restorers out of interest?

 

I'l post lots of pics very very VERY soon, no time tonight though, my sisters getting married tomorrow!

[Geoff Wooff]

Did you discover a number on your new purchase ?

 

I have an English that has a new bellows made by Wim Wakker.... it is just perfect for this type of concertina.. the correct weight and feel. Based on this alone I would have no hesitation in sending my concertina to Mr. Wakker even though he is on the other side of the USA. Colin and Rosalie do fantastic work but they must be very busy making new instruments and so the delays can be long.

I do a lot of my own restoration work and always have to 'fine tune' everything to get what I want out of an instrument.. having said that I have a delay for the instruments that I make (see the Avatar) that would gob -smack the most patient.

 

Based on the pictures of your Concertina I would think that it was made during the First World War.... so if you could find a number, that would prove or disprove my theory, I would be most interested.

enjoy your new toy,

Geoff.

Edited September 16, 2011 by Geoff Wooff

[devonben]

I have dis and re-assembled the box and I cant find any number on the action or reed pans thats immediatly viable, there's nothing left of the baffles and the oval where the makers name (and presumably the number) is empty.

 

The only number iv been able to find is in the bellows themselves but ist only four digits so am i right in thinking its unlikely to be the serial number? In case its any help the number (which is hand written on both sides of the bellows on the insides) is 5537.

 

Also there seem to be some initials writen on the inside of the action which seems to read E J

 

I dont have any more pic's yet, if lent my camera to my sister so she can take photos on her honey moon! but some how i will get some on by the weekend...hopefully.

[devonben]

Here's some more detailed photos of the concertina. Its in a pretty rough state but its all there and other than the ebony veneer and a couple of buttons all the main bits seem ok unglued but intact. Its been suggested to me that while it may be a wheatstone its more likely to be a George Jones, any thoughts???

 

 

p.s. sorry it took so long to get photos up.

[Daniel Hersh]

Here's some more detailed photos of the concertina. Its in a pretty rough state but its all there and other than the ebony veneer and a couple of buttons all the main bits seem ok unglued but intact. Its been suggested to me that while it may be a wheatstone its more likely to be a George Jones, any thoughts???

The pivot posts look more like Jones than Wheatstone to me, but there others here who have more expertise in this area than I do .

[Theo]

The buttons appear to be Wheatstone type with wood core and a nickel cap.

[Geoffrey Crabb]

Here's some more detailed photos of the concertina. Its in a pretty rough state but its all there and other than the ebony veneer and a couple of buttons all the main bits seem ok unglued but intact. Its been suggested to me that while it may be a wheatstone its more likely to be a George Jones, any thoughts???

 

 

p.s. sorry it took so long to get photos up.

 

 

 

Some aspects of the fretwork seem similar to the mystery 56 Tenor-Treble discussed here

 

http://www.concertin...showtopic=13059

 

Geoffrey Crabb

 

PS. Apologies to those awaiting response to emails or PM's. Due to other non-concertina matters occoupying my mind and time at the moment anything concertina requiring more that the briefest reply has been put on the back burner for the time being. Please bear with me.

[Greg Jowaisas]

Anyone thinking Shakespeare?

 

I'd like to see the flat side of the reed pan to see the shape of the shoes. I'd also like to know the thickness of the shoes and a good pic or two of the underside of the reed shoe.

 

The Shakespeare anglo that I have worked on had thicker reed shoes (.84 or thicker if memory serves) and the venting or broaching beneath the tongue was minimal as opposed to the distinct venting on Jeffries reed shoes of similar thickness.

 

Greg

[devonben]

Sorry to sound thick ( im new to this ). What do you mean "the flat side of the reed pan to see the shape of the shoes." do you mean the profile/edge of the reedpan? Also by " the thickness of the shoes" and "the underside of the reed shoe" ?.

 

I'l do my best to get photos of these if i can!

 

ben

[devonben]

Also to thanks to Mr Crabb. The Fretwork is indeed very similar, but the action is quite different, with wiid on nickle buttons, and the keyhole shaped pivot posts.