Cheffin's, Cambridge Auction: Jeffries?

[lea nicholson]

https://www.cheffins.co.uk/fine-art/lot-view,attributed-to-c-jeffries-a-40button-anglo-concertina-late-19th-century_105147.htm

 

Anglos are not my thing, but may be of interest to someone here?

[Mike Acott]

Hello Lea, Identity would be easier with more photos,it certainly does not look as though the ends are Lachenal beccause of the size difference between the two makers

Regards.

Mike

[John Sylte]

This is definitely a Jeffries, as described.

 

edited to add... read description again and now I see they said something about Lachenal so, my bad. At first whiff, it appears to be Jeffries. That's all I should have said.

Edited September 15, 2023 by John Sylte

[david robertson]

In spite of the auctioneers' supposition, it seems improbable that the bellows have been replaced by Jeffries (or, indeed, at all!)

 

If, as Mike suggests, it's smaller than a Lachenal and looks like a Jeffries, isn't Mr Crabb the prime suspect?

[Clive Thorne]

It always amazes me on how low the "Estimates" are on these things. We all know tht it will go for more tha £800, even if its a lachenal (correct me if I'm wrong). Is this a deliberate thing just to get peoples attention?

[Geoffrey Crabb]

Whilst the bellows decoration may suggest Crabb or Jeffries, gilders and patterned paper suppliers were readily available.

 

Some things I have noticed, however, that may suggest it is not a Crabb/Jeffries built instrument of the claimed period .

 

End box sides seem to be Mahogany (possibly blacked at some time).

                Normally Veneered with dyed Pear wood and French polished. Crabb/Jeffries

 

Inserts in end box top sides for strap thumb screw fixings.

                Normally screwed straight into the wood , no inserts. Crabb/Jeffries

 

Edge crimp (bevel) to metal top, wider than expected.

 

Hard to see if fretwork is as expected but the existence of an open cartouche in the fretwork suggests that it originally had a paper label beneath.

                Crabb had a solid oval cartouche. Crabb built Jeffries normally had no cartouche.

 

The box dimensions given do not suggest the size of the instrument. ???

 

It must also be remembered that Charles Jeffries Sen. also had some instruments made by makers other than Crabb.

 

Geoff.

 

Edited September 17, 2023 by Geoffrey Crabb
Ignore Red underlined entry. Enlarged site picture #5 shows no inserts.

[wunks]

Is small size ( across the flats ) an indication as to the maker?  I have a 6" set of 44 button edge beveled T. Shakespeare ends ( bird motif )

[Alex West]

There are more photographs on the Saleroom listing for this instrument.  It's difficult to be certain without a closer and internal inspection but the only indication of this being a Jeffries is surely the bellows? 

 

Alex West

[Stephen Chambers]

6 hours ago, wunks said:

Is small size ( across the flats ) an indication as to the maker?  I have a 6" set of 44 button edge beveled T. Shakespeare ends ( bird motif )

 

Most English-made concertinas (and especially Wheatstone and Lachenal ones) are 6 1/4" across the flats, whilst Jeffries (and similar makes) are 6" or less.

[Stephen Chambers]

40 buttons would be unique among Jeffries instruments, but normal on a Lachenal or Wheatstone. Whilst it would have been normal for Jeffries or Crabb to include the wind-key in the button count, but not for Lachenal or Wheatstone.

 

But sellers often miscount the number...

Edited September 18, 2023 by Stephen Chambers

[Geoffrey Crabb]

Thanks Alex for info re: more pictures.

 

A couple more observations.

 

Picture 5 shows no insert, thumb fixing direct in wood. However, it also shows the end box is two piece (split) and there is evidence of a fixed spacer  next to the joint. This suggests that the instrument was originally wood ended and converted to metal. The spacer is necessary to make up for the reduced thickness of the metal top thus retaining the original button height  above the top. Whether this conversion was done, along with a bellows change, by Crabb or others ???

 

Unfortunately no picture of the left side but the button arrangement of the right seems alien to me. Perhaps Stephen will comment.

 

Geoff

[Stephen Chambers]

22 hours ago, Stephen Chambers said:

40 buttons would be unique among Jeffries instruments, but normal on a Lachenal or Wheatstone. Whilst it would have been normal for Jeffries/Crabb to include the wind-key in the button count, but not for Lachenal or Wheatstone.

 

But sellers often miscount the number...

 

Now that I see there are more photos, it looks like the fingering layout is similar to a 39-key Jeffries or Crabb, except that there's an extra button above both the C-row and the G-row (a whistle and squeaker perhaps?) on the right-hand side - so it does have 40 playing buttons (only not in the Lachenal/Wheatstone layout), plus the wind-key.

 

But the fretwork looks reminiscent of Lachenal.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 18, 2023 by Stephen Chambers

[Geoffrey Crabb]

Stephen, given our observations, I believe that the instrument is originally a wood top Lachenal, later converted.

Why?, the mind boggles.

 

If the extra buttons are 'novelties', on Crabb instruments they were only included as and when, so there are no plans in the archive that definitely include them. Hence my puzzlement.

 

I have attached a comparison with a standard Crabb 38 for interest

 

Cheffins Anglo comparison.docx 

 

Geoff

 

 

  

[Alex West]

Hammer Price was £1,300 with a buyer's premium (inc VAT) of 29.4%

 

Alex West