Mystery 20 key Lachenal type

[Theo]

I've been asked to try and find out anything about about the history of this 20 key anglo.  The fretwork pattern is similar to a Lachenal mahogany ended anglo, but it's been cut with a fretsaw rather than a spindle moulder.  Acton looks similar to Lachenal.  I can't find any serial number, makers name or trade mark apart from a star from a repairer.  There are a few pencil annotations but I can't make out what they represent.  Please look at the pictures.

 

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[Theo]

With some more careful looking I’ve managed to make out some of the wording on the label and faint stamping on the reed pans:

”Repaired by T Walpole, (street name I can’t read) 

islington L’Pool”

[Tiposx]

 

There are a couple of mentions of Walpole in the Lachenal dating thread. Quoted from Dowright:

No. 169404. Handwritten "T. Walpole, 58 Everton Brow, Liverpool , July 24, 1903." (20 key in Bb/F, wood fret, bone buttons, steel reeds 5-fold).

 

Which doesn't really help, but there is another one

 

[Tiposx]

Quoted from Mirien re a qury anout a sale on ebay:

COMES WITH CLOTH BAG WHICH CONTAINS SOME BITS TO BE GLUED BACK ON ALSO A NOTE SAYING 2/12/97 NOTE INSIDE IN PENCIL !!! TUNED TO B FLAT JULY 1ST 1893 J WALPOLE

ALSO ANOTHER PIECE OF PAPER WITH A REPAIRERS STAMP WHICH READS TUNED BY T WALPOLE 88 CANTERBURY STREET ISLINGTON LIVERPOOL

 

102720 and tuning date of 1 July 1893.

Any use to anyone dating Lachenal concertinas?

 

 

 

So  was it a Lachenal after all perhaps.

Edited January 22 by Tiposx

[Theo]

Pretty sure it’s not a Lachenal, though it might have some Lachenal parts.  I wonder if Walpole ( T or J) was an accomplished repairer and had a go at building new woodwork round a set of Lachenal reeds and mechanism.

[Takayuki YAGI]

5 hours ago, Theo said:

islington L’Pool”

Wasn't Liverpool Road in Islington where Crabb's workshop was located?

[Theo]

Yes but there is also a district of Liverpool called Islington.  Very confusing!  
 

this one is the Islington in Liverpool.

[wes williams]

In Kelly's 1894 directory Thomas Walpole at 88 Canterbury St is listed as a musical instrument maker.

In Gore's 1900 he is listed with the same address and occupation.

(Data from  University of Leicester Special Collections - they don't have any later ones, but I'll check elsewhere for more info tomorrow)

[Theo]

Thanks Wes,  that’s most interesting.  So it may have been made by Thomas Walpole, perhaps inspired by the design of Lachenal instruments he had repaired.

[wes williams]

On 1/22/2025 at 3:18 PM, Tiposx said:

 

There are a couple of mentions of Walpole in the Lachenal dating thread. Quoted from Dowright:

No. 169404. Handwritten "T. Walpole, 58 Everton Brow, Liverpool , July 24, 1903." (20 key in Bb/F, wood fret, bone buttons, steel reeds 5-fold).

 

Which doesn't really help, but there is another one

 

On modern maps 'Everton Brow, Liverpool' is also in or near the Islington district given in the other address. There are four Walpole related concertina entries in the Lachenal database.