Lachanal Duet serial number 514

[Schnefsky]

Hi, I have this Lachanal that I think is a Duet. 25 on Left, 30 on Right plus air button. Serial number ? 514 on the left on a metal plate. I have not yet opened it. Any comments, especially on dating it? Is 514 the serial number? 

[David Barnert]

It’s definitely a Duet. There are several varieties of Duet concertinas. This one’s a Crane. The distinguishing feature is the arrangement of the buttons: five straight vertical rows, arced rows going across. Sometimes the same system is called Triumph rather than Crane. Compare with the one here.

 

Unlike Wheatstone, which has a linear relationship between serial number and date of manufacture and all you have to do is look the number up in the ledger books, Lachenal is more complicated. Different numbering system for each type of concertina. There are people on this forum who have a lot of experience making educated guesses matching serial numbers to dates for Lachenals. I’m not one of them. If you post your question here you’re likely to attract their attention.