SOLD: Unique Wheatstone Duet MacCann 79 keys for restoration

[rcr27]

This is a very rare Wheatstone Maccann duet, 79 buttons (correct me if I miscounted) with raised metal ends. Not sure if it can be considered an “Aeola” but it is an 8-sided one, possibly one of the earliest Maccann duets of this size (serial number 24303). The lowest note is C2 and the highest is B6.
 

It is being sold for restoration, it is hardly playable as it is right now, though the bellows themselves are in good condition. It has had a tough life, the photos speak for themselves. It would need a new action board as the original ones have been replaced with metal boards at some point. Could do with new frames too while we’re there… The rest of the components are there, including the aluminium-framed reeds (steel). The raised metal ends are not in bad condition. The left reed pan needs new gasket. 

 

It could be used as a source of spares, though given its rarity it’d be sad not to restore and bring it back to fully working order. It would have been a top-notch beast when it left the factory some 120 years ago. Unfortunately this would be quite an expensive job, hence I’m selling it (plus I’m not a duet player), but I’m sure someone will be willing to invest the necessary. 

Price is £600 + shipping. I’m located in South Yorkshire (UK) currently. I could consider a trade in for an steel-reeded english concertina. 
 

More photos available on private message. Thanks. 

 

Edited September 26, 2024 by rcr27
Deposit made

[Wolf Molkentin]

would please someone take on the task…!

[rcr27]

(not sold yet)

Edited May 26, 2024 by rcr27
Offer retracted

[Stephen Chambers]

Hmmm, "state of the art" in 1906, and reminiscent of the "stretched-hexagonal" shape Lachenal New Model ones that you'll see in old photos of Percy Honri.

                                                               

 

John Hill Maccann's/Lachenal's Duet Patent had only expired 8 years previously (allowing Wheatstone's and others to make them), whilst (weight-saving) aluminium reed frames were being pioneered at Lachenal's by 1894...

 

What a beauty!

 

 

 

Edited May 27, 2024 by Stephen Chambers
Edited to add photo

[rcr27]

Extra photos of the right action board 

[gcoover]

Any chance those metal action boards are original? Looks like they braced the reed pan, and since you can't brace the action board, maybe they tried aluminum to prevent warpage.

 

"Hardly playable", but it looks like all the bits and pieces are there - what is it lacking?

 

Gary

Edited May 25, 2024 by gcoover

[rcr27]

4 minutes ago, gcoover said:

Any chance those metal action boards are original?

I don’t rule it out but I doubt Wheatstone would’ve let something like this leave the factory (see photo attached of the closed bellows), but then again it’s extremely rare having to replace two entire action boards…. 
 

10 minutes ago, gcoover said:

"Hardly playable", but it looks like all the bits and pieces are there - what is it lacking?

Yeah I think I’ve been too harsh there. I had a look a it again and few buttons tend to get stuck, but they eventually release out. That’s about it really!

 

 

[Wolf Molkentin]

33 minutes ago, rcr27 said:

I don’t rule it out but I doubt Wheatstone would’ve let something like this leave the factory (see photo attached of the closed bellows), but then again it’s extremely rare having to replace two entire action boards…. 
 

Yeah I think I’ve been too harsh there. I had a look a it again and few buttons tend to get stuck, but they eventually release out. That’s about it really!

 

 

looks like you’re right - it still might be original in the sense of a private completion of an instrument not having been finished by Wheatstone themselves

[Stephen Chambers]

3 hours ago, rcr27 said:

Extra photos of the right action board 

 

Aluminium levers too, they really were trying to make it as lightweight as possible'

 

But, studying this photo enlarged, I'm sure the aluminium pallet board is a replacement (though they're commonly used in accordions). You can see the glue line running around the wooden frame, where the board would have originally glued into its rebate, and the pads have all been reglued because of the changed geometry.

 

 

 

Edited May 25, 2024 by Stephen Chambers

[rcr27]

This is still available. The highest note on the left side is C5, and the lowest on the right side is F3. It is around modern pitch (A440), but out of tune of course, within the range of -5 to +20 cents.

[luli]

. It would need a new action board as the original ones have been replaced with metal boards at some point.

  Is there anything wrong with the mental board? Does that mean this substitution is wrong?

[luli]

excuse me，could you please upload some film about this concertina when he was healthy

[rcr27]

24 minutes ago, luli said:

Is there anything wrong with the mental board? Does that mean this substitution is wrong?

It’s just not right. 
 

 

22 minutes ago, luli said:

excuse me，could you please upload some film about this concertina when he was healthy

Sorry I don’t understand what you mean 

[saguaro_squeezer]

What are its dimensions?  Any chance there’s a case?

[rcr27]

1 hour ago, saguaro_squeezer said:

What are its dimensions?  Any chance there’s a case?

30 x 27 cm (height x length). With the bellows closed it has a width of 16 cm from one end to the others. No case I’m afraid. 
 

[rcr27]

This is temporarily on hold

[luli]

Please contact me if you wish to sell.