Wheatstone 56 Key Extended Treble English Concertina

[mandobaron]

I have a 56 key extended treble Wheatstone English concertina that I would like to sell, though I would also like to know any more information about it that anyone might be able to provide. Serial Number: 36577

 

It's not pretty, but it sounds great and all reeds except one sound and are in tune. There is one note in one direction fairly high in pitch that isn't currently sounding, but was working when I last had the instrument out of the case a year ago. There is some work needed, as several of the screw holes that hold the faceplate/grill/fancy wooden part (sorry, don't know all the right terms) have worn through and/or stripped out. It will require filling and drilling, or some other form of securing the plate to the reed pan. There is also a hole in the woodwork on that same side. The other side does not require attention and is in good shape, though there seems to be one piece of the woodwork missing near the pinky rest. There are various scratches, dings, and scrapes across the exterior of the instrument, but again, the innards are all very clean, intact, and in tune (except that one perhaps stuck reed).

 

The bellows are in good condition with good compression and are not leaky, but there is one bit of leather coming up in one of the folds. Comes with hardshell case. All of this is well documented in photos and a video, linked below. More questions? Please ask and I will do my best. I never learned to play after picking up a button accordion and falling in love with that part of the music world.

 

I am interested in selling this instrument, but have no idea of what the value is. I am based in Maine, USA. I am also interested in knowing more about the instrument if anyone can tell me more, such as the year or history, or anything.

 

I am new here, but have spent a lot of time over at melodeon.net and the mandolin cafe forum, and have a web presence through my mandolin instruction website mandolessons.com.

 

Donation to Concertina.net if sold through the site.

 

Pictures:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mandobaron/albums/72157664413570762

 

Video tour, explanation, and failed attempt at a tune (sorry for the out of focus, forgot to change that aperture on my camera):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H48T-qp9Szg

 

Thanks very much!

Baron Collins-Hill

Edited February 13, 2016 by mandobaron

[mandobaron]

Hmm, all of my paragraphs seem to have merged into one big block of text. Sorry, I'll try to fix that.

[Geoff Wooff]

Go to www.concertina.net and scroll down the right hand side of the opening page to "wheatstone ledgers" where you'll find the links to the collection of on-line records of the Wheatstone production... you will find the manufacture date for your instrument there. I just did this and get 31st August 1959 .

 

No current idea of value for these later( post war) instruments needing repair. Best bet might be to sell it to one of the dealers like "The Button Box" in New Hampshire.

Edited February 13, 2016 by Geoff Wooff

[Mike Franch]

Best bet might be to sell it to one of the dealers like "The Button Box" in New Hampshire.

Massachusetts. Although, considering the distance from France to New England, this is just a rounding error.

[mandobaron]

Thanks for the mention of the Wheatstone ledgers! I've looked it up and it looks like it was built in 1959. I can't figure out how to attach an image, but here's a screenshot of the ledger:

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mandobaron/24887005862/sizes/l/

 

Any idea what the other numbers mean?

 

I brought it to the Button Box (a lovely establishment, and one of the more dangerous stores I have ever had the pleasure to enter) a couple months ago and got the appraisal of "We don't want it, and people don't want to buy banged up concertinas". They also quoted me a couple hundred dollars to get the woodwork done up and secured, which I may do if there is no interest in someone here wanting it and doing it themselves. I don't know if it should be categorized as "for parts," but I am open to any offers, the worst I can decide is that I'd rather keep it and fix it up and learn to play it somewhere down the line.

 

Thanks again for the help,

Baron

[Geoff Wooff]

 

Best bet might be to sell it to one of the dealers like "The Button Box" in New Hampshire.

Massachusetts. Although, considering the distance from France to New England, this is just a rounding error.

 

Opps, close but no cigar then... sorry!

 

 

The other numbers are; Batch numbers, Model type numbers etc.

Edited February 13, 2016 by Geoff Wooff

[JimLucas]

I don't know if it should be categorized as "for parts...."

Definitely not, in my opinion. If I had money to spare, I would certainly make you an offer, but that's just not possible at the moment... or for a while.

 

I would recommend that you contact Greg Jowaisas* for his opinion on 1) cost of restoration and 2) value after restoration.

 

* Greg is located in Kentucky, but he's a member here, so you can send him a Personal Message via the Forum.

 

...the worst I can decide is that I'd rather keep it and fix it up and learn to play it somewhere down the line.

Hardly "the worst". In fact, I think quite a few of us would recommend that future for the both of you.

 

FWIW, practically anything you can play on mandolin (aside from bending notes) should be playable note for note on that concertina. That includes arrangements with harmonies and chords. The sound would be somewhat different, of course, but that's not necessarily a bad thing .

[mandobaron]

It's been another 6 months of me not playing this lovely instrument, so I thought I'd give it a bump. Does anyone have a sense of what this thing might be worth? Anyone interested in making me an offer?

Thanks very much,

Baron