spindizzy Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 I wonder how many of these were made .. I haven't seen one before. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Looks rather better than their usual offering (they seem to speciallise in particularly beaten up concertinas as a sideline to violins), and a good useful size for a duet; I can't see much wrong with it and the valves look pretty new; a dead man's box unloaded by ignorant relations maybe? If there's anyone interested in such a sensible middleweight machine within striking distance of them I'd recommend they went and looked at it for serious defects with a view to purchase; at that price you could pay for a tune and fettle and come out ahead. "I have to stop buying concertinas," he said firmly. (always fancied an Edeophone!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Theo Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Hmm, it has aluminium reed shoes, and I can see rust on some reeds, so it would need to be checked carefully for the nasty corrosion that can destroy the aluminium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 Hmm, it has aluminium reed shoes, and I can see rust on some reeds, so it would need to be checked carefully for the nasty corrosion that can destroy the aluminium. Yes, Lachenal's were pioneers of using aluminium, starting around 1894, but the material was still very new then and it sometimes corroded very badly. In fact I've seen Edeophones in which it has turned to white powder! But I'd be concerned about the state of the wooden ends too, they look very cracked and dried out, so could delaminate/disintegrate. In fact I wonder if the metal plate around the buttons might have been added because of such problems? The oval Lachenal badge suggests that it's an early example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 But I'd be concerned about the state of the wooden ends too, they look very cracked and dried out, so could delaminate/disintegrate. In fact I wonder if the metal plate around the buttons might have been added because of such problems? Every once in a while an instrument with such plates appears, and there's speculation as to whether they were added after the fact. I suppose that in some cases they may have been... but not always, since I did discover in the Wheatstone ledgers a notation for serial #31099 of black, "metal plates for keys" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted April 7, 2007 Share Posted April 7, 2007 I thought the plates and ends looked like they were made together and that the splitting didn't look any worse than on a lot of old raised end 'boxes. (and the plate can only help, quite apart from looking nicely flashy.), but we're all agreed, you'd want to see it in the flesh. Alluring though, isn't it? Could be a really nice instrument, and must be a featherweight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 (edited) ... I wonder if the metal plate around the buttons might have been added because of such problems?Every once in a while an instrument with such plates appears, and there's speculation as to whether they were added after the fact. I suppose that in some cases they may have been... but not always, since I did discover in the Wheatstone ledgers a notation for serial #31099 of black, "metal plates for keys" Jim, Usually they were added as a repair to badly worn ends with "excavations" around the buttons caused by fingernails, or other problems, but not always. I thought ... that the splitting didn't look any worse than on a lot of old raised end 'boxes. Well I had a very nasty experience with an Aeola last year that didn't look half as bad; I was putting it back together and tightening the fingerplate screws when the end "exploded" and the screwdriver blade went deep into my finger. It took many hours to stick the fretwork back together (after I'd recovered from the shock ... ). Edited May 3, 2007 by Stephen Chambers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Jowaisas Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 (edited) I've bought a couple of concertinas that came from an arid environment. Never a good idea. This one looks a bit dry to me. The cracked end exteriors, coupled with what might be a shrunken reed pan (treble pan, possible gaps on edges) should give one some pause. Throw in the possibility of unstable aluminium and you had best see this box in person and/or be paying quite a bit less than the buy it now price. Just one person who does restorations opinion of course. I received some bellows pics. They look in decent shape. Yes, the early badging, fretwork and probable lightness are intriguing. Greg editted for my old friend "Cardinal Spelling". Edited April 9, 2007 by Greg Jowaisas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 Even so I still have to find something else to look at quickly, although the reeds do look a bit 'weathered'. I wonder if they'd take that 46 key I'm wondering what to do with in px....(that was the last 'irresistable' one) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 (edited) Usually they were added as a repair to badly worn ends with "excavations" around the buttons caused by fingernails, or other problems, but not always. And I see that the seller has now added another photo, of the RH end without the metal plate, which reveals a fair bit of wear to the top lamination of the stained pearwood beneath, and numerous cracks: The cracked end exteriors, coupled with what might be a shrunken reed pan (treble pan, possible gaps on edges) should give one some pause. Throw in the possibility of unstable aluminium and you had best see this box in person and/or be paying quite a bit less than the buy it now price. Indeed so, in fact I'd strongly recommend anyone interested in this instrument to bide their time until the seller reduces the price (as she usually does), sometimes several times before the end of the auction, or when she relists it. (I've had dealings with her in the past, and she starts them high.) Of course, they could always try offering a lower price now ... Edited April 9, 2007 by Stephen Chambers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Look, just stop it now, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 (edited) Look, just stop it now, right? As in "Get thee behind me ..." ? Edited April 9, 2007 by Stephen Chambers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Jowaisas Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Dirge, If we can't save you from yourself, don't say we didn't try! Before making a bid you'd better check with Malcolm Clapp and make sure his bench is cleared for the next couple of months! Malcolm does charge by the month doesn't he? And I believe he still has the reed tongues from another early Lachenal experiment with aluminium. Just the tongues that is! Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 It's all right, Greg, even I'm not foolhardy enough to buy this particular instrument from this particular seller (at that particular price too) at a range of several thousand miles. As everyone has pointed out, too many unknowns involved. Don't you just hate common sense sometimes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Don't you just hate common sense sometimes? Yep, and I'm still awaiting the delivery of a Lachenal Anglo that I bought off eBay from the 'States a few weeks ago that has cost me $2,500 already, plus 400 Euros to clear it through Customs, plus a trip to Shannon Airport. Common sense, moi? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Prebble Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Look, just stop it now, right? If the price comes down Dirge, you could always enquire about the size of the buttons.... never know....they could come in handy one day Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 No, only 56 and I need 71. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Prebble Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 No, only 56 and I need 71. Shucks ! Foiled again Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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