Edeophone?

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

I keep seeing mentions of Edeophone, what is it that makes them different from other concertinas? Genuinely curious about what they are and differences to other types🌝

 

[DickT]

Lachenal's top range of instruments. Wheatstone's answer was the Aeola.

[DickT]

PS

 

12 sided.

[d.elliott]

Edeophones have long series reeds, there is also a Lachenal action design flaw which accentuated in Edeophone Action geometry.

[David Barnert]

[Matt Heumann]

Here are my Edeophones (left to right)

56-glass button ebony treble

48-button Amboyna w/gold fittings treble

56-button ebony elongated baritone

56-button ebony treble

Edited March 24 by Matt Heumann
change of content

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

45 minutes ago, Matt Heumann said:

I tried to post a pic of my Edeophones for you, but Cnet said I'm limited to attachments if only 5.8k.....impossible.

So here's a Dropbox link to my EdeophonesL

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ykqvt0emymp2j30kbe3n4/Edeophones.jpeg?rlkey=ooigcyycnl31bpvprqgjbf4x9&st=bzt2pnf2&dl=0

Thank you for taking the time to let me see those lovely instruments.. I assume one has a wooden finish to it? I notice. Very interesting🌝

[Stephen Chambers]

On 3/20/2026 at 11:03 PM, SIMON GABRIELOW said:

I assume one has a wooden finish to it? I notice. Very interesting🌝

 

That's amboyna wood, a de-luxe finish which, along with silver gilt fittings, cost 25 shillings extra around 1920, when a regular "ebony" 48-key Edeophone cost £19 ,, 18s ,, 6d.

 

My 21st birthday present, many years ago, was a 56-key "ebony"-ended Edeophone, and I recently got a very special 48-key amboyna one:

 

 

 

 

Edited March 22 by Stephen Chambers
Edited to add photo

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

A lovely wood on the concetina it certainly is that Amboyna.🌝

[Jonnotantan]

On 3/20/2026 at 5:26 PM, d.elliott said:

Edeophones have long series reeds, there is also a Lachenal action design flaw which accentuated in Edeophone Action geometry.

Dave - I am inrigued by this, could you elaborate further re: the "design flaw"?

[Tiposx]

Anticipating Dave’s response, he could be referring to wear on the levers in an Edeophone. Many of them are bent to fit into the available space between button and pad. This accentuates wear at the pivot, which is a hook. The wear combined with the convoluted levers can lead to the pad rocking when it’s button is pressed. Hence loss of pad lift, unreliable sealing and so on.

This is a downside of hook actions rather than riveted pivots in such an application.

 

[Jonnotantan]

9 minutes ago, Tiposx said:

Anticipating Dave’s response, he could be referring to wear on the levers in an Edeophone. Many of them are bent to fit into the available space between button and pad. This accentuates wear at the pivot, which is a hook. The wear combined with the convoluted levers can lead to the pad rocking when it’s button is pressed. Hence loss of pad lift, unreliable sealing and so on.

This is a downside of hook actions rather than riveted pivots in such an application.

 

Many thanks for the response, exactly the sort of niche information I enjoy learning whilst sipping my morning coffee! 

[Tiposx]

Then there is the lore of Edeophones rolling off tables onto hard floors...

[Matt Heumann]

 

On 3/20/2026 at 7:03 PM, SIMON GABRIELOW said:

 I assume one has a wooden finish to it? I notice. Very interesting🌝

They are all wooden finishes: 3 Ebony, 1 Amboyna.

As for rolling, its not just lore, years ago I saw someone chasing their Edeophone down a grassy slope at a festival. I always set mine in the case or on a soft cushiony surface to secure them from rolling, except my elongated baritone which is longer on 2 sides (and at 5+ lbs, isn't going anywhere.

[Matt Heumann]

On 3/23/2026 at 3:52 AM, Tiposx said:

Anticipating Dave’s response, he could be referring to wear on the levers in an Edeophone. Many of them are bent to fit into the available space between button and pad. This accentuates wear at the pivot, which is a hook. The wear combined with the convoluted levers can lead to the pad rocking when it’s button is pressed. Hence loss of pad lift, unreliable sealing and so on.

This is a downside of hook actions rather than riveted pivots in such an application.

 

All but one of my Edeophones have riveted levers, which is very contrary to common perception that all lachenals are hooked