jamie Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 (edited) G'day everyone, New member here, Just trying to figure out who the maker Mr. C. Staff might be? Perhaps with Lachenal? I really dont' know, but hope someone here can help me. Thanks! Edited June 12, 2007 by jamie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirge Posted June 12, 2007 Share Posted June 12, 2007 Hallo Jamie; give us a clue! Where have you come across him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 Well, it's not much, but this is what I know. A man in Australia has an old anglo concertina, says "Made in England", and "by C. Staff", but there is no 'brand' like Lachenal or Wheastone to be found. The fretwork, from what I can tell, looks like a Lachenal, but the pictures are at an angle. I've asked him for a face-on picture of the fretwork. Does that give someone any idea? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie Posted June 13, 2007 Author Share Posted June 13, 2007 here's the best pic i have of it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wes williams Posted June 15, 2007 Share Posted June 15, 2007 We had a Lachenal anglo 'made' by Charles Staff of Melbourne reported here a while back; serial 29445, 20 key, brass reed, 5-fold and Staff seems to have been in business circa. 1872-1878. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marien Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 ...trying to figure out who the maker Mr. C. Staff might be? Thanks! I guess that this is the same concertina? http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...p;rd=1&rd=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill B Posted August 9, 2012 Share Posted August 9, 2012 I have been browsing the Ancestry website, where there is a wealth of photos and information concerning concertinas. "Charles Staff, concertina maker, 6 Royal Arcade,Melbourne", was probably Charles Staff born in Norwich Norfolk. on 16th October 1823; he may have died 29th June 1888 in Coburg, Victoria Australia In the 1861 census he is shown living in Liverpool with his wife Esther from Knetishall, Suffolk and four children. They seem to have moved around the country as their son Edward aged 12 was born in Salisbury Wiltshire, daughter Isabel aged 10 born Wigan Lancs, son Charles aged 8 born Ipswich Suffolk and daughter Esther aged 5 born Liverpool. Charles is described as an accordion maker. Perhaps someone from Australia would be able to research his life on the Australian genealogy web sites. Gill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laitch Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 (edited) Here are a couple of Melbourne, Australia references to Charles Staff. A concertina. A drastic outcome for a musical instrument dealer. Edited August 12, 2012 by Laitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill B Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Charles Staff's period of insolvency was fairly short lived. The Argus, Melbourne reported on 15th November 1864. INSOLVENT COURT. MONDAY, NOV. 14. Certificates of discharge were granted to the following insolvents:-Charles Staff, paper flower-maker, of Melbourne ......etc He advertised fairly regularly in The Argus. Melbourne, all the ones that I have found fit a 3-line box format. Here are a selection: 24th June 1876 ANGLO GERMAN CONCERTINAS, steel notes, any key, three, four, five, and six guineas. Staff, Royal Archade. A FACT.- I have the best Assortment of CONCER- TINAS in the colonies. Charles Staff, Royal Arcade. Advert 2nd April 1877 The Argus, Melbourne: ANGLO GERMAN CONCERTINAS, by Louis Lachenal, London,35s each, Guaranteed. Charles Staff, Royal Arcade. 17th August 1878 CONCERTINAS,Violins,Accordians, Flutes, Ban- joes, Flutinas,&c., reduced prices; largest stock in Melbourne. Charles Staff, Royal Arcade. 16th July 1881 THEODOLITE for SALE, by Holstlopenhagen, in perfect order. Apply Charles Staff's concertina warehouse, Royal Archade. ANGLO-GERMAN CONCERTINAS,siver steel notes; written guarantee; the best ever made. Charles Staff, Royal Arcade. From reports and letters in The Argus, Melbourne it seems that he was heavily involved in local politics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcoover Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 "paper flower-maker"??? Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gill B Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Yes, and lampshades! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenneads Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Just an aside. The royal Arcade in Melbourne was, and still is, a prestigious address. Beautiful Melbourne was built mainly with Gold Rush money from the mid 1800's and is a spacious and beautifully laid out city with some extremely impressive buildings, arcades and leafy parks surrounding it. Old Charlie must have had a large rental bill methinks. I have attached a photo of the Royal Arcade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael sam wild Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 It wasn't Prof Maccann on the run was it? The stave of C would be a hidden joke ( Nice idea for a novel?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Viehoff Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 C Staff doesn't really work as a musical joke, because it's called a C clef http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clef and C staff is not even how people say it casually. The singing teacher at my school, Mr F Sharp, now that's another matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm clapp Posted February 3, 2013 Share Posted February 3, 2013 Not the same instrument as discussed above, but this one currently in for repairs.... Number 43021, rosewood ends, 7mm bone buttons, steel reeds, Lachenal stapled action, but 6 fold bellows surprisingly. Hand rest has the usual Lachenal England Trade Mark, so not much doubt about the maker although label states "Chas Staff Concertina Maker 6 Royal Arcade Melbourne" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomstaff Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 Charles staff is my 4th great grandfather, he made concertinas back in the day, not very well known 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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