Overpriced Concertinas

[SteveS]

I've been following the recent spate of high-end BT concertinas that have been listed on eBay.

In the week or so I've noticed a number of other concertinas, most likely unrestored, being offered for sale for what arguably seem like premium prices.

Here are some examples:

English Concertina Wheatstone Antique 30 key mahogany lachenal concertina with steel reeds Wheatstone 48 key treble English System Concertina made in April 1923

I suspect what's happening is, the vendors see top-end concertinas listed and think something along the lines of "grandad's old concertina looks just like that - it's old, it must be worth a fortune - better get it sold" without fully understanding concertina types and qualities, and the market.

Edited May 25, 2013 by SteveS

[Wolf Molkentin]

English Concertina Wheatstone

 

Definitely overprized, each of them.

 

However the one above is of interest for me due to its outside similarity to the Lachenal Excelsior I play. To date I'd been of the opinion that these Wheatstone ECs were late rebranded ones from Lachenal stocks (maybe assembled later on). Now I've learned that it might rather have been the other way round, which would make Lachenal's Excelsior a clone of early Wheatstone ECs not only in terms of functioning but outfit as well.

 

What do you fellow concertinists think or know about that?

[Laurence]

Did you see the old Jeffries that was here and gone almost immediately on eBay last week? I think it sold for around $5300 USD..

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-1890S-C-JEFFRIES-MAKER-39-KEY-CONCERTINA-ALL-ORIGINAL-IN-BOX-HOLY-GRAIL-/321128045690?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item4ac4b91c7a&nma=true&si=2cuZ8hDb92F82NwaNitVFBQf7Os%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

[Wolf Molkentin]

Did you see the old Jeffries that was here and gone almost immediately on eBay last week? I think it sold for around $5300 USD..

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-1890S-C-JEFFRIES-MAKER-39-KEY-CONCERTINA-ALL-ORIGINAL-IN-BOX-HOLY-GRAIL-/321128045690?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item4ac4b91c7a&nma=true&si=2cuZ8hDb92F82NwaNitVFBQf7Os%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

But no case of "overpricing" here, unless in a much broader sense...