81 Fret Concertinas; Fretwork Between The Buttons?

[Greg Jowaisas]

In a topic about the Wheatstone ledger annotations the designation "81 fret" came up.

I have a concertina with this ledger description that I took to mean fretwork between the buttons a la Edeophones. But no less of an authority than Chris Algar was not sure what the 81 fret notation means.

 

In an attempt to decipher what that designation signifies I'd like cnet members to respond if you have a Wheatstone made after 1913 (serial #26300 or up) that has fretwork cut between the buttons. Or if you have an instrument that is described in the ledgers as having 81 frets even if it does not have fretwork between the buttons.

 

Of course if someone already knows what the 81 frets ledger notation means we'll take an immediate answer and end to this investigation.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Greg

[nils]

Aeola 28317

 

Nils

[Greg Jowaisas]

Nils,

Does your Aeola have fretwork between the buttons?

 

Greg

[nils]

Yes.

 

I could take a photo if it helps.

 

Nils

[SteveS]

I have a model 5A from 1919 S/N 28103 with frets cut between the buttons.

Steve

[David Barnert]

Yes.

 

I could take a photo if it helps.

 

Nils

I'd like to see a photo.

[Robin Harrison]

Here's mine...............S/N26664...............1914

Robin

[RobSay]

In an attempt to decipher what that designation signifies I'd like cnet members to respond if you have a Wheatstone made after 1913 (serial #26300 or up) that has fretwork cut between the buttons.

 

Wheatstone Aeola #26503 just appeared on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-C-Wheatstone-Co...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Ledger: http://www.horniman.info/DKNSARC/SD01/PAGES/D1P0610S.HTM

 

"81 Fret" - picture shows cutout fretwork.

 

Rob

[Greg Jowaisas]

Rob,

Thanks for the links and keen observation.

 

#26503 indeed has the 81 fret ledger designation and the fretwork between the buttons.

 

It is still inconclusive to me whether "81 frets" means fret work between the buttons. (A few examples of instruments submitted by cnetters have had the fret work between the buttons but no "81 fret" designation in the ledgers. Hard to tell at this point whether this is a notation omission or something else.)

 

But every piece of evidence helps. Thanks again for noticing, Rob!

 

Greg

[Dazbo]

In an attempt to decipher what that designation signifies I'd like cnet members to respond if you have a Wheatstone made after 1913 (serial #26300 or up) that has fretwork cut between the buttons.

 

Wheatstone Aeola #26503 just appeared on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-C-Wheatstone-Co...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

Ledger: http://www.horniman.info/DKNSARC/SD01/PAGES/D1P0610S.HTM

 

"81 Fret" - picture shows cutout fretwork.

 

Rob

 

How much would this concertina have cost new? My work colleague asked and I guessed at £15-20.

 

 

Cheers

[Greg Jowaisas]

Concertina.com:

 

http://www.concertina.com/pricelists/wheat...t-Eng-c1915.pdf

 

18-19 GBP !!

 

I'll take a dozen please!

 

Greg

[Leonard]

How much would this concertina have cost new? My work colleague asked and I guessed at £15-20.

Here's the trick to find out:

 

find the serial number in the ledgers in the Horniman Museum: http://www.horniman.info/DKNSARC/SD01/PAGES/D1P0610S.HTM

Here you find it's a "No. 17, octo black 48 keys 81 frets", produced in summer 1914.

 

The nearest known Wheatstone pricelist is from 1915: http://www.concertina.com/pricelists/wheat...t-Eng-c1915.pdf

A standard No.17 cost £ 18/s10. #26503 maybe a little more for the fancier fretwork....

 

So £15-20 was a good guess.

But how long someone had to work for that kind of money?..........

 

Edited to add: Less words make Greg a faster poster.

Edited February 14, 2008 by Leonard

[Chris Drinkwater]

Has anyone who owns one, counted up the frets? Do they total 81 in number? Or why are they referred to as 81 frets?

 

Chris

[Greg Jowaisas]

 

 

Get out your magnifying glass, Chris and start counting! I quickly counted more than 90 fret openings. Stephen Chambers thought the shape of the fret work might have inspired the "81" designation. I'm still looking for answers.

 

Greg

Edited February 15, 2008 by Greg Jowaisas

[Dazbo]

Thanks for the responses (and how to find out prices). Even more of a guess but I'd think that this would be at least a month or two's wages for an unskilled worker - those that hadn't joined up by then. I don't know why but I've got £3 per week as a goodish wage in those days in my mind.

[Pete Dunk]

Seems a bit too obvious and I can't imagine there's any way to confirm or disprove the idea, but is it possible that the fret pattern was designed in 1881? Perhaps it was even shelved at the time as being too intricate or impractical. Just a thought.

 

Pete.

[Leonard]

Possible explanation:

 

On a 48 keys instrument with fretwork in between the keys, there are 17 extra holes on the right hand side and 16 on the left hand side. This means there are 48+17+16=81 holes in the key area.

 

Or are there any 56K wheatstones with the "81 frets" designation?

[Leonard]

Or are there any 56K wheatstones with the "81 frets" designation?

 

I checked: several 56 keys with 81 frets.