Dating my Ex-Salvation Army Lachenal Anglo

[tobymelodeon]

Can anyone help with dating my concertina please? I’m aware of the lack of records around Lachenals and that there is a formula that is somewhat hit and miss… but…

 

It’s an Ex-Salvation Army Lachenal 32 button. It has metal ends, metal buttons (except the air button which is bone) and 6 fold bellows. Currently tuned in concert pitch D/G but no idea if this was original. The serial number is 192503.

 

Any help greatly received!

 

(The Wheatstone picture is my late Dad’s concertina… serial number 31119 from June 1926)

 

[tobymelodeon]

Couldn’t upload with original post… Dad’s Wheatstone.

[Stephen Chambers]

On 12/6/2024 at 5:26 PM, tobymelodeon said:

It’s an Ex-Salvation Army Lachenal 32 button. ... Currently tuned in concert pitch D/G but no idea if this was original.

 

Ab/Eb tuning (to play with brass instruments) was normal for these Salvation Army concertinas, whilst D/G was uncommon in the old days, so most of the old D/G ones being used today have been retuned from Ab/Eb.

[d.elliott]

On 12/6/2024 at 5:26 PM, tobymelodeon said:

Can anyone help with dating my concertina please? I’m aware of the lack of records around Lachenals and that there is a formula that is somewhat hit and miss… but…

 

It’s an Ex-Salvation Army Lachenal 32 button. It has metal ends, metal buttons (except the air button which is bone) and 6 fold bellows. Currently tuned in concert pitch D/G but no idea if this was original. The serial number is 192503.

 

Any help greatly received!

 

(The Wheatstone picture is my late Dad’s concertina… serial number 31119 from June 1926)

 

 

 

To answer the question on date, Best guess is around 1920

[Clive Thorne]

On 12/6/2024 at 5:26 PM, tobymelodeon said:

Can anyone help with dating my concertina please?

 

Buying it a drink would be a good start.

 

(The old ones are the best!)

Edited December 10, 2024 by Clive Thorne