Another J Wallis 20 Button Anglo

[Towser42]

Hi folks,

 

I've just come into possession of a J. Wallis 20 button Anglo concertina and I'm hoping somebody can help me with a little more information about it. It definitely needs some work and I want to do it myself, as a learning experience (I've done some minor repair work on some other, newer concertinas), but I want to be sure this is just an old, but average, instrument, and not something of great historic value.

 

I'd also appreciate any information about who made it for J. Wallis -- Lachenal, Jones or somebody else? I'm guessing it was made before 1887, since it still says J. Wallis on the label, rather than J. Wallis & Son? There is nothing stamped on the underside of either (I don't know the proper term) palm rest, so does that mean it's definitely not Lachenal?

 

There is some rust on the reeds, so presumably they are steel? Grateful for any other info.

 

I've taken off the left end and I'm uploading some pictures.

 

Thanks for everything,

 

Pete

Edited May 1, 2018 by Towser42

[Daniel Hersh]

Looks like an early Lachenal to me. Others may know more.

 

Hi folks,

 

I've just come into possession of a J. Wallis 20 button Anglo concertina and I'm hoping somebody can help me with a little more information about it. It definitely needs some work and I want to do it myself, as a learning experience (I've done some minor repair work on some other, newer concertinas), but I want to be sure this is just an old, but average, instrument, and not something of great historic value.

 

I'd also appreciate any information about who made it for J. Wallis -- Lachenal, Jones or somebody else? I'm guessing it was made before 1887, since it still says J. Wallis on the label, rather than J. Wallis & Son? There is nothing stamped on the underside of either (I don't know the proper term) palm rest, so does that mean it's definitely not Lachenal?

 

There is some rust on the reeds, so presumably they are steel? Grateful for any other info.

 

I've taken off the left end and I'm uploading some pictures.

 

Thanks for everything,

 

Pete

[Takayuki YAGI]

Just noticed that number on the label(#24717) and reedpan(#10572) are different and this one has numbered keys.

I digged my photo archive and found that #22298 didn't have numbered keys and #11513 had numbered keys. So I think whole end or label was replaced sometime and #10572 is correct.

In my understanding early Lachenal didn't have reedshoe trademark (before 1878?), so I too think it is an early Lachenal.

 

Edited to add:

I just found that Barleycorn currently sells 22 button Lachenal #22301 with numbered keys. So #22298 might have numbered keys (my photo was unclear and that was my mistake).

Edited May 2, 2018 by Takayuki YAGI

[Dowright]

No. 24717 was made circa 1874, How do we know? For those with Lachenal labeling, the earliest ones with "Lachenal & Co." (rather than "Louis Lachenal") were numbered around 24000.

 

No. 10572 was made circa 1868. J Wallis started selling Lachenal Anglos from the outset (around 1862). I cannot say for sure, but I do not think that J. Wallis dealt in English Lachenals until about the time the company changed ownership (1873) when the Engsih ones were numbered around 19000.

[Towser42]

Thank you. That's interesting, so the 10572, might be the Lachenal serial #?

[Towser42]

Can anybody tell what the buttons (keys) are made of?

 

Thanks,

Edited May 1, 2018 by Towser42

[Theo]

Bone, identified by the longitudinal pores that are visible as tiny dark dots on the ends of the buttons.

[Towser42]

Bone, identified by the longitudinal pores that are visible as tiny dark dots on the ends of the buttons.

 

Cool. Thank you very much!