What make is this concertina?

[DerWanderer]

I am very new to concertinas, and thus know very little about them. So my apologies if this question is glaringly obvious!

 

I purchased this concertina a while ago online. When it arrived I realized that there was no brand name on it, at least on the surface. Not being experienced enough in concertinas, I haven't been wanting to disassemble anything to see if there is a make or model number anywhere underneath. So I decided it would be best to post pics and get some help from all the wonderfully knowledgeable people on this forum.

 

The only marking on the outside of the concertina is "Made in German Democratic Republic", naturally leading me to believe the accordion was made between 1949-1990, although certainly to me it couldn't be any older than the mid-late 80's due to appearance and condition. I tried checking East German manufacturers, but without any pics or model numbers off my instrument I didn't want to make any false conclusions.

 

I know it isn't worth much, but I'm looking to sell it and want to be sure I offer a fair price without ripping other people off. It's a simple but beautiful concertina (I think), although it's simplicity makes me question it's quality.

 

If anyone could point me in the right direction I would be very thankful! Or in the very least let me know how I could go about finding the make and model of this instrument without risk of damaging it. Thank you!

 

 

[John D]

it looks very similar to this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Interesti-old-Martinelli-Concertina-octogonal-Box-/130591952167?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e67e30d27#ht_2599wt_1398

 

unfortunately it's probably not really worth much more than the broken one in that listing

[Wolf Molkentin]

There has been a long lasting tradition of accordion manufacture in "Klingenthal" (Saxony). Under the brand name of "Scholer" you'll find lots of information about the related concertina making. The latest specimens got branded under "Schaumanufaktur Klingenthal", as far as I know.

 

Yours will almost certain be an "Anglo(-German)" Concertina (AC) (bisonoric, different tones on the push and on the pull) with 20 (+1) buttons, i.e. no (further) accidentals, strictly diatonic in two keys, probably C and G.

[DerWanderer]

Thanks! I was wondering if it was a Scholer, as the design is very similar to a lot of the models I've seen, but there is no original emblem or markings and no original box to confirm it. :/

 

And from what I remember from the original description of it on the sale that is exactly what it was: Anglo Concertina, 20 buttons, and in C and G.

 

Wish I knew the exact model number, would it be okay for me to take off the cover and look for a model number? I'd like to do so without messing up any of the buttons or reeds. Just need to know roughly how much I could ask for it. I think I bought it for 86 dollars including shipping (give or take)

[Mikefule]

As long as you're careful, you can't do any harm taking one of the ends off. Undo the six screws carefully, and make sure that they go back in the right six holes - don't mix them up.

 

But I would have thought that a concertina of that quality would be likely to be worth exactly the same, regardless of whether or not it has a "model number". It looks mass produced, and is likely to be of low value. What does it offer the purchaser that a brand new cheap Hohner (for example) doesn't offer? Therefore, why would someone pay a lot for it?

 

How does it play?

[JimLucas]

Undo the six screws carefully, and make sure that they go back in the right six holes - don't mix them up.

Six

screws?

I only see three.

 

This is not English-style construction, but German-style. Many differences, both internally and externally. And unlikely to have have any information (model name/number) internally. Still, if DerWanderer is careful he should be able to take an end off and put it back together without doing damage.

[Wolf Molkentin]

What does it offer the purchaser that a brand new cheap Hohner (for example) doesn't offer? Therefore, why would someone pay a lot for it? How does it play?

Well, it looks like it might play a little better than the average Stagi/Hohner model: the buttons are shorter and have a larger scale (thus a less critical leverage?), so they won't be as sticky (or dare we say "stucky"?) as we know them from the before-mentioned ones?

 

Again, you won't have to open the instrument therefore...

 

P.S.: Don't expect to get more than you paid for it; perhaps much less.

My personal taste would be met better by this one than by the countless mahogany Stagis...

[Theo]

And from what I remember from the original description of it on the sale that is exactly what it was: Anglo Concertina, 20 buttons, and in C and G.

 

Being nitpickingly correct it is a German concertina, not an Anglo. The Anglo-German name applies to concertinas with the German (diatonic) note layout and English type of construction as pioneered by George Jones.

 

 

Wish I knew the exact model number, would it be okay for me to take off the cover and look for a model number? I'd like to do so without messing up any of the buttons or reeds. Just need to know roughly how much I could ask for it. I think I bought it for 86 dollars including shipping (give or take)

 

I doubt if you will find a model number that will mean anything useful. It is just a standard 20 button German concertina. These pretty much follow exactly the same design, the only reasonably common variations are the keys its tuned to, and occasionally you find one with two sets of reeds with tremolo tuning.

[Wolf Molkentin]

Being nitpickingly correct it is a German concertina, not an Anglo. The Anglo-German name applies to concertinas with the German (diatonic) note layout and English type of construction as pioneered by George Jones.

Thanks for another little mystery being lifted... (and I apologize etc.)

 

It might be added that there is a substantial different instrument called German or (obviously better then) "Chemnitzer" Concertina, in the magnificent size of the (esp. Argentinian) bandoneon (which may be derived from it)...:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nyXCQaZ1UU&feature=related

[Wolf Molkentin]

The most similar for the time being...

 

You might decide to follow the auction (as well as some others).

[DerWanderer]

Thank you everyone for the useful information!

 

I just wanted to know the make, in the very least, because when I sell things I like to be extremely thorough. Whether the item is worth 2 dollars or 2000 I like to provide people with every last possible detail so that they can look into it themselves and make sure they're getting what they're looking for and for a decent price. I'm not expecting to get much out of this concertina, I recognize that it's not exactly a high-end concertina. I bought this one to start learning on, plus it's simple yet beautiful design (to me anyway), and also my obsession with all things German.

 

blue eyed sailor: That looks almost identical to mine,even the design of the bellows is practically 100% similar. Only difference is the added design. I'm going to have to look more into this auction for sure. Although I'd just assume mine already isn't worth as much as what this is going for.

[JimLucas]

It might be added that there is a substantial different instrument called German or (obviously better then) "Chemnitzer" Concertina, in the magnificent size of the (esp. Argentinian) bandoneon (which may be derived from it)...:

Others know better than I, but as far as I know the bandoneon and Chemnitzer are semi-independent German-developed expansions of the simpler 20-button German concertina, and neither was derived from the other. The Chemnitzer system is popular mainly in the American midwest and the bandoneon in Argentina, while it's been mentioned that there's a third similar-appearing system (the name escapes me) which is still popular in some parts of Germany.

 

Comparing the bandoneon, Chemnitzer, and that third system could be likened to comparing the different "duet" systems marketed by the English concertina makers.

[Daniel Hersh]

It might be added that there is a substantial different instrument called German or (obviously better then) "Chemnitzer" Concertina, in the magnificent size of the (esp. Argentinian) bandoneon (which may be derived from it)...:

Others know better than I, but as far as I know the bandoneon and Chemnitzer are semi-independent German-developed expansions of the simpler 20-button German concertina, and neither was derived from the other. The Chemnitzer system is popular mainly in the American midwest and the bandoneon in Argentina, while it's been mentioned that there's a third similar-appearing system (the name escapes me) which is still popular in some parts of Germany.

 

Comparing the bandoneon, Chemnitzer, and that third system could be likened to comparing the different "duet" systems marketed by the English concertina makers.

I believe that's correct. The third system is Carlsfelder, which is still played in the Franken/Franconia region of Germany and possibly elsewhere too.