MarinaMoroshka Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 (edited) Dear, concertina folk! Could you state the value of this instrument for sale and buy it if you are interested in(internashional shipping from Ukraine)? Details: black Aeola number 24370. Old pitch, never tuned, metal buttons, bellows and compression are Ok, absolutely playable. Genuine. No cracks and visible scratches. The owner asks for 2500 GBP. For more details write me or ask, pls, because I write as the owners interpreter. P.S. I`m waiting for better pictures and mp3 because I guess the information above is not enough. What would you say about this concertina? Would anyone take it for tuning and restore/repair? What else I could tell you. The owner is a pianist and got the concertina from her teacher, who brought it from Germany in 1944. He was a circus performer. After his death she got the instrument. Never opened it. That`s all I know for today. Waiting for your comments and any questions. Marina Edited January 14, 2015 by MarinaMoroshka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 This is a strange looking Aeola. It just does not look like an original Wheatstone, appart from the metal fittings , badges etc. In my opinion the instrument has had a 'make over' with new ends, possibly made from a plastic type material , note how there are no scaloped edges to the ends and how the fretwork paterns are quite different. Then there are two light coloured bandings on the sides... The Bellows also does not look original , as if made by an accordeon or Bandoneon maker... an original Wheatstone bellows for the period of a 24,000 serial number would have five or six somewhat recessed folds. It could still be a fine playing instrument . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinaMoroshka Posted January 14, 2015 Author Share Posted January 14, 2015 (edited) I`ve asked about bellows one of really experienced concertina seller and he told that bellows don`t look genuine. I agree with you. They`ve got too many folds definitely! About ends I`m not sure and waiting for new pictures as I told before. Do you think it`s possible to ask the owner to open the concertina and show what`s inside? And the lines on the sides...What`s that? The owner says - reflection of light. What do you think? Have you got any ideas? Thanks for looking and posting comments! Edited January 14, 2015 by MarinaMoroshka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcoover Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Maybe this is one of the rare bakelite models? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Maybe this is one of the rare bakelite models? A thought. Too bad we can't consult the ledgers, as it's from the missing period. I suppose the unusual bits could be original at the buyer's request, deliberately a little different for a clown act, but I also suspect they're actually from later renovation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 The owner is a pianist and got the concertina from her teacher, who brought it from Germany in 1944. He was a circus performer. Marina, could you tell us the name of the fellow who brought it from Germany? It would be interesting to see if there's anything about him on the internet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sqzbxr Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 The banding on the ends looks like it may be the edges of gasketing, possibly chamois. If the ends are indeed bakelite I can see putting a pliant material between mating surfaces to prevent buzzing and (possibly) cracking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 Yes Marina, pictures of the insides would be very usefull. Looking at the Bellows end frames.... they look very deep ( long if you like) , I know photos can be deceptive but they look deeper than those of an original Wheatstone Bellows.... could this be to provide space for accordeon reeded internals ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Molkentin Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 .... could this be to provide space for accordeon reeded internals ? ...or doubling of reeds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinaMoroshka Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) Dear experts! You`re great, actually! So many intersting details you give only having 4 quite good-quality pictures!!! It`s so impressive! I promise to know as much as only I can about the previous owner and the instrument. Just give me a couple of days and don`t drop to keep looking this topic! Appreciate it a lot! Edited January 15, 2015 by MarinaMoroshka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinaMoroshka Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 One more picture of bellows and the owner has got a tutor by Alfred Edwards. That`s all for now, dear experts. She asks for 2500 GBP. What would you say about the price? Is it reasonable? I`ll give her every letter you write me even if the instrument is subjected to criticism because you`re the best here and do know the subject matter. Grateful for your help, dear folk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinaMoroshka Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 (edited) Ebony or bakelite? Edited January 19, 2015 by MarinaMoroshka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinaMoroshka Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 To opening the concertina. She tells that she`s never done it before and not going to do it! She only can make an mp3 to show how it sounds. Not much information. Give please your advice what to do best? Put it on Ebay, wait for someone who is ready to buy it as a venture or give up everything because nobody wants to run risks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david robertson Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Is it just my old eyes, or does anyone else think that the upper left quarter of the fretwork looks a bit random? Compare it with the flowing pattern on the right. Looks to me like a not very good repair. But if wood, why no edge mouldings? Here's my guess: the original ends got broken,and perhaps the pieces of that quarter were lost. Someone then made new ends, but without a complete pattern to work from, resorted to imagination. Sorry, more questions than answers. But one thing is pretty sure: without more information, it would be a brave buyer who would be prepared to pay the asking price, which is rather more than one would expect to pay for an Aeola without all these questions attached. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Jeepers Creepers, there's nothing wrong with your Peepers ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm clapp Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 The bottom left too. The eyes have it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarinaMoroshka Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 It`s beyond belief! Would you call it FAKE? or just failed restoration? Only for parts: buttons and reeds? Oh Lord..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 In that last picture the Bellows look much better , perhaps even original ?? However, there is a reluctance to take a chance on a purchase of something that does not look 'quite right'. A piece of antique furniture, say a table from the 18th century which looks to have been restored with new legs from the 20th century is not going to attract many offers from the collectors or dealers... though it may work just as well as a table from Ikea at 10% of a percieved antique value. Whilst an original and restored Wheatstone Aeola being purchased from a respected specialist dealer would probably cost £2500 . I am sure most purchasers would want to travel to the house of an unknown private seller so as to examine and play the instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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