Edward Jennings Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 I bought this unknown concertina because I thought it was a 20 key Lachenal. However, after winning the auction, I realised that I hadn't taken in the pictures properly, and it was a 24 key instrument. Can anyone confirm or deny that it is a Lachenal? All I've seen so far are a few pictures, as I'm 3000 miles away from it until the back end of November. Typically, the label is hardly to be seen, but perhaps someone can tell? There is no "Steel Reeds" stamped into the hand rests, and the fretwork cross doesn't look to be as well shaped as that on 20 key examples which I've seen, but it does have metal mechanics inside. Also, are the extra buttons likely to be accidentals|? Thanks for any info, it would really be appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike byrne Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 Looks like a Jones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papawemba Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 The end looks exactly like this Lachenal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Jennings Posted October 10, 2018 Author Share Posted October 10, 2018 (edited) Thanks, chaps. Mind, it does look exactly the same as the one sold in Yorkshire! Here's a bit better look at the label. Although blurred with enlarging, and unclear at the best of times; I cannot recognise the wavey bit that's usually evident on the Lachenal label. Edited October 10, 2018 by Edward Jennings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrtle's cook Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 In terms of the label - if the box is a Lachenal it might well be a dealer's label, further obscuring origin (and indeed on some Jones's). Sorry that's not of much help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanD Posted October 10, 2018 Share Posted October 10, 2018 Looks like a Lachenal to me. Here are photos of my 24-button and 22-button Lachenals. These have the all-important C# for playing in the key of D along with useful reversed G/A notes. I read somewhere that these were designed for the Irish market - a lower-cost alternative to the 26-button (my main instrument) and 30-button variants, and just fine for playing many tunes in C,G, and D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Jennings Posted October 10, 2018 Author Share Posted October 10, 2018 Thanks for that Myrtle's cook. I once had a 20 key thing with a label from (if I remember correctly) Jones of New Bridge Street, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. But I was told that they were just a retailer and that the instrument was a Lachenal. That was 30 or so years ago. Thanks, too, SeanD. I see that your 24 has entirely different fretwork, just to muddy the waters even further! lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Jennings Posted October 11, 2018 Author Share Posted October 11, 2018 Well, here's a better pic of the label. I would have thought that it was just a retailer's, but with the word "PATENT" included, who knows? I would have thought that only the patentee would be allowed to have that on their label? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nkgibbs Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 Edward, This post may be of interest.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Takayuki YAGI Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 I found a different version of J Wallis label without 'PATENT' (not mine). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanD Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 It seems J. Wallis sold a wide range of musical instruments - I found these pages in the HathiTrust database, from the "Music Trade Directory 1912-1913", published in London in 1912 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Jennings Posted October 12, 2018 Author Share Posted October 12, 2018 What a can of worms, eh? This is all fascinating stuff, and many thanks are due to the likes of Stephen Chambers, Neil Wayne and the rest of those who've put untold hours into researching these queer little instruments on our behalf. I can hardly wait until November 22nd, when I'll be able to try this thing out and look for any numbers inside. (Along with the Saratovskaya which I've also bought and not yet seen!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Molkentin Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 On the RH side it will have the C#/Eb accidentals on the button left to the C row and a double Duplication on the G row button (and LH likewise I seem to recall) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Jennings Posted October 12, 2018 Author Share Posted October 12, 2018 Thanks for that, Wolf. However, it doesn't mean much to me as I don't know music at all. Mind you, I do know that there are often notes in tunes, which I'd like to play on my 1 row melodeons, which just aren't there. I take it that these might be the missing notes (accidentals?) in some cases. Thanks again, I'm looking forward to more learning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikefule Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Whatever the make, I hope it's a nice instrument to play, because that is the main thing. Some interesting challenges to learn the use of those extra few notes in those positions. Enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Jennings Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share Posted October 13, 2018 I have to agree with you there, Mike. "If it isn't fun, it's not worth a light!" That's my motto now that I'm well past retirement age. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolf Molkentin Posted October 15, 2018 Share Posted October 15, 2018 I second these suggestions - and would also strongly tend to this instrument being of Lachenal make... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward Jennings Posted October 15, 2018 Author Share Posted October 15, 2018 Yes, I've thought all along that it was actually manufactured by our friends at Lachenal. But the (dare I say, necessarily) muddled picture given in the bits and pieces which I've found on or via here, from renowned experts, have made me doubt my own judgement. I'll report any internal numbers on here as soon as I find them, if there are any to find, that is. Thanks to everyone who's replied, I really appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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