Geoff Wooff Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 (edited) Due to the current situation it does not look as though our dance band will be having any outings for another year, and my health demands a new bicycle so, on the market goes my spare Treble English. Of course, I might just buy a Duet with the funds and spend even more time sitting on my rear end ! Also note my post in the Ergonomics section. A 56k Extended Treble Aeola made in 1929, recently refurbished with a new six fold bellows from David Robertson, new thumb straps and other renovations ,including tuning, by myself. I have not replaced the pads, valves and springs or re-finished the ends as it plays perfectly well like this and shows the wrinkles and scars of 90+ years of music making. Tuned to A440hz. Equal Temperament. I am happy to tune it to any desired temperament , at extra cost. More pictures on request or see the listing on Facebook 'concertinas for sale. Asking €3200. This price is in Euros and equates to about £2600 sterling or $3600 USD. Located in central France. It appears to have been owned by three French clowns , including, I think, Ramond Devos , who can be seen on youtube playng it. I bought it one year ago from the last of those clowns. Edited November 21, 2021 by Geoff Wooff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 I see there was a pair of them, with consecutive serial numbers, made together in 1929 and, though the ledger entry doesn't mention it, it has the Edeophone-like cut-outs between the buttons that seem to sometimes be associated with the designation "81 fret" in descriptions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted November 21, 2021 Author Share Posted November 21, 2021 Indeed, but those cutouts between the buttons appear on plenty of Wheatstones including the Amboyna 48 Treble Chris Algar has for sale currently. and the entry in the ledgers does not mention '81 fret' for that one either. I wonder if, at the point of ordering your new concertina, you could choose a fret design from a patern book ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoopet Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 (edited) Lovely looking instrument Geoff.....I imagine that after all your fine tuning and fiddling it will play brilliantly! Arguably the best period for aeolas? Good luck with the sale. Edited November 24, 2021 by scoopet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted November 25, 2021 Author Share Posted November 25, 2021 (edited) 21 hours ago, scoopet said: Lovely looking instrument Geoff.....I imagine that after all your fine tuning and fiddling it will play brilliantly! Arguably the best period for aeolas? Good luck with the sale. Hi Scoopet, perhaps many of us have our favourite periods of concertina production. In nearly 50 years of owning Aeolas I have had at least 12, but the three that stand out as the best players were all made in 1927. The second half of the 1920's saw Wheatstones making many specials and instruments made using fancy materials. Reading through the factory ledgers for this period is a mouth watering experience. By the beginning of the 1930's economic circumstances and the popularity of the Italian Accordion called for cost cutting measures which, do not always impact on playability and this particular Aeola shows only the very smallest of changes , a simpler ( faster to assemble) rivetted action. All the accoustic qualities of the second half of the 1920's are still present and I doubt anyone would notice the slight change to the action. It is the concertina I have chosen all year for my daily practice . Edited November 25, 2021 by Geoff Wooff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conzertino Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 I totally agree! My all-time favourite is late 1926 and I regard the 31xxx as the top-period - plus-minus... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Acott Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 I agree that that 1927 was a very good year as I own 31657,31659 and my real favourite31660, all are real stunners. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted November 26, 2021 Author Share Posted November 26, 2021 (edited) I have 31518 currently but I have had 31536 and 31529. 31536 was my first fine concertina, restored by the Crabbs with a new bellows I played it for 12 years before running low on money ( new business and small children to feed) I hope whoever has it now aprieciates its qualities. 31529 was the finest concertina I have ever played. Why I swapped it with Dirge I cannot imagine though at the time I thought he deserved it and would publish further recordings ..... still waiting. Edited November 26, 2021 by Geoff Wooff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Husmann Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 On 11/26/2021 at 4:14 PM, Mike Acott said: I agree that that 1927 was a very good year as I own 31657,31659 and my real favourite31660, all are real stunners. Mike Just curious: in the ledgers you’ll find both Tortoiseshell and Shell, sometimes on the same page. just two words for the same material or is there actually a difference? 🤔 Christian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted December 4, 2021 Author Share Posted December 4, 2021 On 11/27/2021 at 4:35 PM, Christian Husmann said: Just curious: in the ledgers you’ll find both Tortoiseshell and Shell, sometimes on the same page. just two words for the same material or is there actually a difference? 🤔 Christian I think 'Shell' is probably a shortened way of writing Tortoiseshell... perhaps the writer could not remember how to spel the word, although it is, of course possible that it is a code for real or faux . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aeola29028 Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Hi Geoff, a friend is looking for a concertina to progress for the Wheatstone tutor you sold me in 1976. Would it sound well with 28029 (which needs a minor retune of a couple of reeds but otherwise is playing well). Grqham and I are playing duets and a better instrument would be nice. Regards, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aeola29028 Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Hi Geoff, a friend is looking for a concertina to progress for the Wheatstone tutor you sold me in 1976. Would it sound well with 29028 (which needs a minor retune of a couple of reeds but otherwise is playing well). Graham and I are playing duets and a better instrument would be nice. Regards, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted December 5, 2021 Author Share Posted December 5, 2021 Hi Peter, it has been a lot of years since 29028 went into your hands and I am very happy that you are still enjoying it. Indeed the one I am selling here is every bit as good and should sound wonderful in duet with 29028. There is however a distinct advantage with the one on sale here, it being slightly larger and with the new six fold bellows it has plenty of wind for big chords. I am only selling because Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is limiting my playing and Covid restrictions mean there is little hope the dance band will be functioning for another year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted December 6, 2021 Author Share Posted December 6, 2021 Looks like this one is sold and will be on its way to Australia soon. Although sold through another medium I will make a donation to Cnet all the same. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konzertina-123 Posted January 16, 2022 Share Posted January 16, 2022 Just wondering, who was the clown wo sold it to you ? (vous pouvez aussi me répondre en message privé) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted January 16, 2022 Author Share Posted January 16, 2022 2 hours ago, Konzertina-123 said: Just wondering, who was the clown wo sold it to you ? (vous pouvez aussi me répondre en message privé) It was Yann Rossi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konzertina-123 Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Thank you. Do you know who were its previous owners, besides Raymond Devos ? My instrument also comes from a French clown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Wooff Posted January 18, 2022 Author Share Posted January 18, 2022 On 1/17/2022 at 9:44 AM, Konzertina-123 said: Thank you. Do you know who were its previous owners, besides Raymond Devos ? My instrument also comes from a French clown. Yes, but I have forgotten. I have the name written down somewhere so, when I find it I will let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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