Unusual one for sale on Barleycorn site

[Daniel Hersh]

It's a very different-looking baritone English.  Full listing is at https://concertina.co.uk/stock-selection/other-concertinas/unique-baritone-concertina-marked-edward-chidley-unrestored/.

 

[DickT]

At least it will not roll off  a table!

[gcoover]

Looks like somebody got a new drill press for Christmas...

[alex_holden]

I'd guess it was an experiment aimed at reducing the manufacturing cost. It would be interesting to see how the reed pans are laid out and if there are any other unusual design features inside.

[Myrtle's cook]

There's a broadly similar 'stretched hexagan' Chidley EC listed on the Concertina Museum site  http://concertinamuseum.com/CM00246.htm which also has screwed in reeds. The item on the Barleycorn site is relatively small for a baritone (last picture, next to an Anglo) - I wonder if this is enabled by arranging the reeds along the edges of the box as per the Concertina Museum instrument(?) As Alex suggest, perhaps a prototype?

 

I also notice the Barleycorn instrument is now listed as sold subject to completion.

[SteveS]

Looks like someone has made replacement ends for this, and to keep costs down was very handy with a drill press.

[saguaro_squeezer]

If I had the extra money it would go well in my square concertina corner.

 

[Ciaran Algar]

It really is an interesting thing! We've never had anything quite like it, but it really is a brilliant little (well, fairly big) player. It's brass reeded but we were convinced they were steel before looking inside- and that's not something we get wrong very often! The ends are a mystery- I think you might not be far wrong with the drill press comment. It has a new home now and it's going to be fully restored so hopefully we'll get to see/hear it in action in the future.