Fdracula110 Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 (edited) Hi, I need some help with this one. I'm an old hand with violins but a novice "box" admirer. Recently acquired a very old mccann of unknown origin. Serial 1514. With brass air lever. Steel reeds. It appears in nice unrestored cond. Would appreciate any info. Many Thnx. Edited January 19, 2016 by Fdracula110 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Acott Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 You have a small sized McCann duet , With steel reeds it will be worth having restored . Good Luck. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdracula110 Posted January 19, 2016 Author Share Posted January 19, 2016 (edited) Thank you so much for the reply. I was guessing as much. But I'd like know who made it and when. 1514 seems a low serial number and I'm not sure how common the brass air lever is? I don't know how much restoration it would need. Sounds very good. No broken fretework, bellows hold well. Edited January 19, 2016 by Fdracula110 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 Thank you so much for the reply. I was guessing as much. But I'd like know who made it and when. 1514 seems a low serial number and I'm not sure how common the brass air lever is? I don't know how much restoration it would need. Sounds very good. No broken fretework, bellows hold well. Almost certainly a Lachenal. The "low" serial number doesn't mean a lot, as Lachenal had separate serial number runs for their Englishes, anglos, and duets, and I believe that for numbers in that range even the Maccanns and Cranes had separate runs. I have two Lachenal Maccanns, both metal-ended New Models, and their serial numbers are 1271 and 1272. My New Model Crane duet is #3027. I'm not sure what the highest serial number was for a Lachenal duet, but I'm pretty sure it was less than 6000, maybe even less than 5000. Also, 46-button Maccanns often (usually?) didn't have air buttons/valves, so I would guess that the air lever is a clever later addition. In fact, in the photo it looks to me like the wooden slot the lever slides in has been added on top of the original fretted end and overlaps an open space in the original fretwork. You should check how it's mounted on the action board and its opening in the reed pan for evidence of whether it was part of the original design. (Additional photos would be nice.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdracula110 Posted January 19, 2016 Author Share Posted January 19, 2016 Clever is right. Does look like a nicely done alteration. The concertina seems very old though, I'd like to try and date it. I'm learning that with lachenal there may always be some mystery. Also, I'm a true anglo novice and the Mccann system is probably well over my head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted January 19, 2016 Share Posted January 19, 2016 The concertina seems very old though, I'd like to try and date it. How old do you think of as "very old"? The patent for the Maccann system was issued in March 1884, so I wouldn't expect any with serial numbers before then. Some further searching for references wasn't very satisfying, but maybe enough that I would guess #1514 to date from somewhere in the period 1895-1905. I hope Randy Merris (member "dowright" here) will chime in with something more specific, as he (in cooperation with Chris Algar and others) seems to be keeping the most extensive and reliable database of details relating to the dating of various makes of concertina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdracula110 Posted January 19, 2016 Author Share Posted January 19, 2016 Thank you for the info. 1890s is fairly "young" for violins as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dowright Posted January 21, 2016 Share Posted January 21, 2016 Randy here: I would date the year of manufacture for your Maccann duet as circa 1896. (The closest marker that I have is Lachenal Maccann No. 1819, which was purchased in 1898.) And 1896, of course, is the year in which the Crane duet was patented. During 1886-1910, Maccann duets and Crane duets had separate serial number series. The Crane patent expired, and Lachenal began using Lachenal & Co. on the Crane labels. In 1912, the Crane Triumph model was introduced for the Salvation Army. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fdracula110 Posted January 21, 2016 Author Share Posted January 21, 2016 Thank you Randy. I'm a novice anglo player(backround is violin) and easily excited. It looks to have been untouched for a good many years but I'm afraid playing it will be well over my head. I also picked up a Jones 26 at the same time, that I'll keep. May I ask your help in dating it? Serial 10210. I haven't had much luck. Again, thank you for your time. JH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Selby Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Does anyone have information on the volume of manufacture of Lachenal's McCann Duets (Patent No. 4752)? I have number 1010 and I'm trying to date it. 46 buttons, rosewood ends, sold through Rushworth's of Liverpool.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Middleton-Metcalfe Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 a brass air lever! what a sensible idea, sounds comfortable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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