Odessa Duet Concertina

[Stephen Chambers]

I'm reviving this old thread because tonight I've found a discussion about another Odessa concertina like mine on the Concertinas are cool! Facebook page.

 

But you'll need to be a member to view it: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2730314850535350&set=g.2240273277

 

 

 

Edited April 11, 2023 by Stephen Chambers

[Stephen Chambers]

Here's a machine translation of an article in Russian about the instrument:

 

Blaginton Details Published: April 11, 2018

 

In the 80-90s of the 19th century, the production of meloharmonics, or, as they began to be called, Russian concertinas, was launched in Odessa. They were made by Blagin and Nikolaev. The works of the masters were of high quality. For the original simple design, skillful manufacture and for the high effect of the introduction of the melogormonic (Russian concertina) in schools in the classroom with choirs - masters I.F. Blagin and E.V. Nikolaev received prizes at the World Exhibitions: Paris - in 1889, Chicago and Antwerp - in 1893 and 1894. But, perhaps, Ivan Fedorovich Blagin, a well-known Odessa master for custom-made any harmonicas, fell to the lot of fame. In addition, he was well versed in the technique of playing the concertina and other harmonicas. Many pop and circus artists from other cities turned to him, as he was famous not only for his high skill, but also for his ingenuity. He was fluent in all technological operations. He invented the Russian concertina of a special design and arrangement of keyboards, he called "Blaginton". In 1893, in Odessa, Ivan Fedorovich Blagin published the School for the newly invented and privileged Russian concertino "Blaginton". For the invention of this instrument, Ivan Fedorovich Blagin was awarded the Gold Medal of the Paris Academy of Inventors. But only in 1902 Blagin received a patent for the manufacture of Russian concertinas "Blaginton". And although the master has been making blaquintons for almost 30 years, very few of them have survived to this day.

 

In 2008, Valentina Andreevna, the great-granddaughter of the craftsman Chernikov, donated to the Museum the blaginton she had inherited. She recalls that this concertina was presumably made by Blagin in 1906-1908 for Tsarevich Alexei, the son of Tsar Nicholas II, and that the master himself taught the sick boy to play this instrument. Tsarevich Alexei played the blaginton until his departure from Odessa, and after his departure, the concertina remained with the master. After the death of Ivan Fedorovich, his wife kept the concertina as a memory of the royal family and the work of her husband. The concertina was passed down from generation to generation and was carefully kept as a precious relic and memory of a talented master. “During the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), when the Germans came close to Odessa, my grandmother,” recalled Valentina Andreevna, “buried the instrument in the garden, planting a birch tree in this place, so that it would be easier to find later.” The family was evacuated, and after the war returned to Odessa, the hidden instrument was dug up. All subsequent years, blaginton and other valuable materials were kept in the family of Yakov, Valentina Andreevna's nephew. He also kept a patent for the invention of Blaginton. But one day there was a fire in his apartment. The patent and many other valuable historical items burned down. Fortunately, the blaginton and the medallion presented to the craftsman by the son of Nicholas II have survived. After the fire, Yakov gave these items to Valentina Andreevna for safekeeping. In 2009, after consulting with all her relatives, Valentina Andreevna brought a blaginton and a medallion to the Museum to offer them for the museum collection.

 

Now in the permanent exhibition of the Museum, among Russian harmonicas and button accordions, this rare instrument, the blaginton, is demonstrated.