chris Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 Hi further to a posting I made a while ago, trying to ascertain actual maker, it was suggested that a look at the action may be of benefit, I have got my concertina back from having new bellows, thumb straps, and a re-tune (all nicely done by David Leese). To reiterate my first posting- my understanding is that Joseph Scates didn't always make his own concertinas (who did?) and I was wondering whether this was one of his. I understand that it is not Wheatstone, Lachenal, or Jefferies From David Leese and probably not Nockolds?. I wonder if anyone recognises the type of action as being used by any other makers. The concertina is amboyna ended with bone/ivory buttons. Prior to its new bellows it had 4 folds, and is brass reeded it has a serial number 226 and an address label '28, Westmoreland Street Dublin' (suggesting 1850/1 I think). I also wonder if anyone recognises the bellows papers from any other maker. Does anyone know what happened to Joseph Scates after 1866? look forward to comments/thoughts etc. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted March 22, 2006 Share Posted March 22, 2006 I've seen the same type of action. It was in an early concertina which had Rock Chidley Bellows papers, and a Chidley type fretwork pattern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted March 23, 2006 Author Share Posted March 23, 2006 Hi apologies for the duplication of posts, kindly removed by Robert Gaskin -thank you. apologies for the length of time the photos take to download it will be apparent that I am not very computer literate! being somewhat old fashioned and not used to 'Zips' Should anyone wish to have a quicker!! look at the photos they are on this site http://uk.msnusers.com/chrisphotosconcertinas Maybe!! I don't say this with a whole lot of confidence thanks for interest already shown chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wes williams Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 ..Should anyone wish to have a quicker!! look at the photos they are on this site http://uk.msnusers.com/chrisphotosconcertinas Hi Chris, I looked at the photos, but they seem to be of two different instruments. If the action photo corresponds to the instrument you are asking about, then Theo's suggestion of Chidley as the maker seems a good one, as Chidley advertised a dual pivot action in 1851: ROCK CHIDLEY begs to call the attention of the Nobility and the public visiting the Great Exhibition to the very great improvements he has discovered in the manufacture of his CONCERTINAS, amongst which are his newly invented Glass Studs, working on a double fulcrum action, and a variety of other improvements, which are very obvious to the admirers of this instrument. But I think we should interpret Scates relabelled concertinas as 'resold by' rather than 'made for' in many cases. The Wheatstone Ledgers suggest he was buying and reselling a fairly random mix of instruments. best wishes .. wes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted March 23, 2006 Share Posted March 23, 2006 I looked at the photos, but they seem to be of two different instruments. Rather than two different instruments, what about before and after restoration? My own impression is that the "original" bellows papers aren't orignal at all, but something added long after the original construction, maybe even "home made". No rounded corners, and not any pattern that I would associate with concertina manufacture at any period. Chris, did the bellows seem to be original? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted March 23, 2006 Author Share Posted March 23, 2006 Hi Jim,hi Wes hi Theo It is the same instrument. The Papers with the sharp corners are the ones as fitted to the instument when I bought it some 20 years ago. David Leese voiced an opinion that the bellows he replaced were'well made'and may have been Wheatstone.-not sure tho'. The thumb straps were replaced by Hobgoblin (A.C.Norman) some 15+years ago (that is pencilled inside the concertina) unfortunately they faded over the years and so they were replaced (to do with aesthetics rather than wear) at the same time that the bellows were replaced (Jan 2006) by David Leese. With regard to the 'original' papers We (myself and my wife-who claims she now knows more about concertinas, and makers, than she ever thought possible or desirable since I started to try to find out more about Scates etc) noted that Joseph Scates father was a stationer and this made us wonder whether they might have, originally, been 'end papers' for books that Scates may have used for cost saving on manufacture when setting up. With reference to the action I hadn't associated the phrase 'double fulcrum action' with the Scates but it does make sense doesn't it? thanks for the interest best wishes chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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