Lachenal Catalogue listing parts for sale.

[Chris Ghent]

Some time ago I saw a Lachenal catalogue listing parts for sale including for example reed frames and tongues. Does anyone know where I might find a copy for a history project I would love to get finished. 
 

 

[malcolm clapp]

Possibly not what you are seeking, Chris, as not specifically Lachenal parts, but the London dealer J. J. Vickers was offering a brief list of spares in their catalogue from the  mid 1930s, (bottom of page 4).

http://www.concertina.com/pricelists/dealers/Vickers-Pricelist-c1935.pdf

 

Probably just a coincidence, but that particular catalogue would date from around the time that Lachenals closed....

Edited December 23, 2024 by malcolm clapp

[Chris Ghent]

Really interesting Malcolm, glad to have seen it, but not what I am after.  The one I want was much more technical,  quoted frames separate to tongues. Anyone else?

[Stephen Chambers]

13 hours ago, Chris Ghent said:

The one I want was much more technical,  quoted frames separate to tongues.

 

Was it this one from 1859 Chris, in which it says "All these Instruments are Warranted with Iron Screwed Notes, the various other Parts of which can be had Seperately"?

 

http://www.concertina.com/pricelists/lachenal/Lachenal-MDRA-1859.pdf

[Chris Ghent]

Hi Stephen,

thanks for that, although I think the one I saw had more detail (once I could remember almost everything, now I’m just glad to be able to find my house when I come home) this one will do.  I’ll send you a copy of the work in a couple of weeks… 

 

Have a good Xmas

 

Chris

[Chris Ghent]

Stephen,

 

I have had a recollection, there was a short list, maybe 6 items including frames and tongues separately, along with prices. Can't remember what the other items were but I think levers were mentioned. 

 

Chris

[Chris Ghent]

On 12/24/2024 at 12:26 PM, Stephen Chambers said:

 

Was it this one from 1859 Chris, in which it says "All these Instruments are Warranted with Iron Screwed Notes, the various other Parts of which can be had Seperately"?

 

http://www.concertina.com/pricelists/lachenal/Lachenal-MDRA-1859.pdf

Stephen, I found the one I meant, its from 1864

Edited January 2 by Chris Ghent

[Stephen Chambers]

12 hours ago, Chris Ghent said:

Stephen, I found the one I meant, its from 1864

 

Ah, brilliant! I've never come across that price list before, and it's quite the most detailed one I've seen - though it dosn't mention spare levers as being available (like you mentioned - which threw me rather), all the spares listed are reed-related.

 

I've got one of the "superior quality", 4-hole, tuning apparatuses, in its case.

 

And I guess Louis Lachenal no. 15347 (which I have), must be a (very fancy) "engraved ebony" no. 9 on the list:

 

http://www.concertina.com/chambers/michaelstein/images/Chambers-Michaelstein-017.htm

 

 

 

Edited January 2 by Stephen Chambers

[adrian brown]

Thanks for you tenacity in digging this out Chris…

 

I love the small print comment on Chromatic Anglo German Concertinas: “These instruments are constructed as the English, each Note being separately fitted, but for the convenience of parties who prefer ease to elegance in performance, are fingered as the German.” That told me…

 

Also I might be showing my naïvety here, but what is meant by Vibrators? Are they the reed tongues? (“ready to use in the notes” = frames?) But were these really sometimes made of silver and gold as suggested?

 

Am I right in thinking that buttons were called “studs” when made of glass, “keys” when in ivory and “touches” when silver was used?

 

I don’t think I have ever seen ivory buttons on a concertina, although I am sure there must have been some, but a lot of bone. Since the instruments described as having ivory keys are cheaper than those with silver touches, I wonder if “ivory” in this case simply meant a white material like bone? 

 

Happy New Year everyone 🙂

 

Adrian

Edited January 2 by adrian brown

[Chris Ghent]

It is the most mannered piece of concertina ephemera I have seen. I like “The People’s Concertina”. 16 years after “The Communist Manifesto”; oblivious I would suspect rather than in reference.  

 

 I look forward to Stephen answering your questions. 

[Duncan Luddite]

3 hours ago, adrian brown said:

I don’t think I have ever seen ivory buttons on a concertina, although I am sure there must have been some, but a lot of bone. Since the instruments described as having ivory keys are cheaper than those with silver touches, I wonder if “ivory” in this case simply meant a white material like bone? 

G'day Adrian,

My 1850's Jabez Austin appears to have Ivory buttons. It's really hard to get good images of it on camera (the eyes pick up a lot more of the detail) but they have the same striations (akin to wood grain) as my 1800's Ivory Sector. The bone tools I used with my shoemaking (final photos) have a more 'cloudy' structure.
Hope this helps people with identification.

Cheers, and Happy New Year
Duncan

[Stephen Chambers]

2 hours ago, Chris Ghent said:

I like “The People’s Concertina”. 16 years after “The Communist Manifesto”; oblivious I would suspect rather than in reference.  

 

Louis Lachenal died on 18th December 1861 aged 40, and the entries in the Post Office London Directory show that the business was then carried on by his widow, ‘Lachenal Elizabeth (Mrs,) concertina maker’.

 

“The People’s Concertina” was then introduced in 1862, coinciding with the 1862 Exhibition and, yes indeed, members of the Lachenal family✽ have told me that Elizabeth Lachenal had Socialist leanings!    

 

✽Bill La Chenal and his mother, Dorothy (“Dee”), whom I visited on 15th March 2000. Bill is a great-grandson of Louis Lachenal; his grandfather was Louis’ youngest son, Alexander (born 27th October 1861, a Crown Agent and civil engineer), and his father was Alexander’s youngest son, Ronald. The form of the family name was changed to ‘La Chenal’ in England at the time of the First World War, in order to appear more French (and more importantly at that time, less German!). Another branch of Alexander’s family, in the United States, uses the original form, ‘Lachenal’.

[Chris Ghent]

Excellent as usual Stephen. 
 

Duncan, I cannot attest to this but I was told bone and ivory feel different, one is warm to the touch and the other cold. Can’t remember which is which though! 

[Dan Worrall]

Adrian, thanks for pointing that out; with my eyesight I would have missed it. I never had thought of the Anglo as being particularly easy compared to the English! I guess they were trying to make the instrument seem a bit more respectable, which was also the goal of adding the chromatic row of course. The result was an instrument that is both incredibly simple and yet capable of being incredibly complex. I know you are among those who have fully explored that top row.

 

Thanks for posting that ad, Chris. It helps explain that period of time. One thing especially caught my eye. Selling two different tuning apparatuses for home use seems amazing today.....but effective distances were much larger in those horse and buggy days, so it makes sense for those living in outlying areas.

 

And a Happy New Year to all!

[Chris Ghent]

On 1/3/2025 at 7:02 AM, adrian brown said:

Thanks for you tenacity in digging this out Chris…

 

I love the small print comment on Chromatic Anglo German Concertinas: “These instruments are constructed as the English, each Note being separately fitted, but for the convenience of parties who prefer ease to elegance in performance, are fingered as the German.” That told me…

 

Also I might be showing my naïvety here, but what is meant by Vibrators? Are they the reed tongues? (“ready to use in the notes” = frames?) But were these really sometimes made of silver and gold as suggested?

 

Am I right in thinking that buttons were called “studs” when made of glass, “keys” when in ivory and “touches” when silver was used?

 

I don’t think I have ever seen ivory buttons on a concertina, although I am sure there must have been some, but a lot of bone. Since the instruments described as having ivory keys are cheaper than those with silver touches, I wonder if “ivory” in this case simply meant a white material like bone? 

 

Happy New Year everyone 🙂

 

Adrian, I was leaving this to Stephen who has more idea than me than me but he has not engaged. Studs are mentioned in a number of times in this ad including for nickel silver and glass. It is the first time I have seen the word used. Silver touches I suspect are not studs/keys/buttons, they are a small piece soldered on to the top of the buttons, the part you “touch”. 
 

I have seen “vibrators” used elsewhere, I believe this refers to the reed tongues. 

[Chris Ghent]

On 1/5/2025 at 5:39 AM, Dan Worrall said:

Adrian, thanks for pointing that out; with my eyesight I would have missed it. I never had thought of the Anglo as being particularly easy compared to the English! I guess they were trying to make the instrument seem a bit more respectable, which was also the goal of adding the chromatic row of course. 

Dan,

I’m with Adrian on this, its a sly insult. 

[adrian brown]

12 hours ago, Chris Ghent said:

On 1/2/2025 at 9:02 PM, adrian brown said:

Also I might be showing my naïvety here, but what is meant by Vibrators? Are they the reed tongues? (“ready to use in the notes” = frames?) But were these really sometimes made of silver and gold as suggested?

 

Am I right in thinking that buttons were called “studs” when made of glass, “keys” when in ivory and “touches” when silver was used?

 

I don’t think I have ever seen ivory buttons on a concertina, although I am sure there must have been some, but a lot of bone. Since the instruments described as having ivory keys are cheaper than those with silver touches, I wonder if “ivory” in this case simply meant a white material like bone? 

 

Happy New Year everyone 🙂

 

Adrian, I was leaving this to Stephen who has more idea than me than me but he has not engaged. Studs are mentioned in a number of times in this ad including for nickel silver and glass. It is the first time I have seen the word used. Silver touches I suspect are not studs/keys/buttons, they are a small piece soldered on to the top of the buttons, the part you “touch”. 
 

I have seen “vibrators” used elsewhere, I believe this refers to the reed tongues. 

Expand  

 

Thanks for that Chris - that makes sense, I'd forgotten that buttons are not always solid!

 

But to come back to the vibrators, (and I hope you won't think I am obsessing over this!) if it indeed refers to the reed tongues, has anybody ever seen gold and/or silver reeds? I would have thought that quite apart from the cost, both would be a worse material than brass or steel?

 

Cheers

 

Adrian

[wes williams]

1 hour ago, adrian brown said:

 

Thanks for that Chris - that makes sense, I'd forgotten that buttons are not always solid!

 

But to come back to the vibrators, (and I hope you won't think I am obsessing over this!) if it indeed refers to the reed tongues, has anybody ever seen gold and/or silver reeds? I would have thought that quite apart from the cost, both would be a worse material than brass or steel?

 

Cheers

 

Adrian

Buttons are usually referred to as studs by Lachenal, but also as 'touches' which I think refers to buttons where the cap only is metal.

 

Reeds/vibrators other than brass or steel are rare, but do exist in these early versions. Please see this price list from a year or two earlier, where the various playing properties of the metals are given.