Another Old Lachenal...

[Craige]

Hi, I have a Lachenal concertina and would much appreciate some info/advice on it before I decide what to do with it. I've attached some pictures that, hopefully will give and idea of the condition of the instrument. By way of a description it:

 

- has 39 keys, some only work in one direction, most play the same note in both directions. From the photos you should be able to see that at some time someone has replaced some of the reeds as there is a mix of steel and brass(?). Some of the steel reeds seem fairly rusty and the whole concertina will need tuning.

 

- the bellows seem in good condition being pretty clean and I couldn't spot any holes/leaks in the bellows themselves (although some of the keys/pads may not seal properly).

 

- all of the keys are, I guess, ivory and seem to work ok (although as outlined above the reeds and sealing pads (apols for the incorrect terminology!) need attention)

 

- the end screws all seem present and correct and the ends of the concertina are, I would guess, rosewood

 

- the straps are OK, although they don't match and the screws attaching them to the concertina are "workmanlike"!

 

- I believe the concertina has its original case, although the leather strap and key are missing.

 

If it is of value I'd probably sell it (or repair then sell it) as it seems a waste to keep it sitting on the shelf even longer than it already has so any advice or info would be much appreciated - for example more details on the type of concertina, age, poss value poss restoration costs and restored value etc (I'm based in the UK if this has any relevance).

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Craig

Edited April 3, 2008 by Craige

[Larry Stout]

Looks like a 39 button Maccan Duet serial number 1851, which would make it fairly early for a duet I think. 39 buttons small for a Maccan, so this would be an entry level instrument from its era.

[McIsog]

It looks like a nice instrument that could probably use a professional 'tune-up' including tuning some of the rusty reeds. How did you come onto this instrument? Do you have any interest in playing it?

[Craige]

It looks like a nice instrument that could probably use a professional 'tune-up' including tuning some of the rusty reeds. How did you come onto this instrument? Do you have any interest in playing it?

 

 

Thanks for the info (both of you) - I inherited it a few years ago when my grandmother passed away and it has been in the family for many years. Unfortunately, two small children, work, playing the guitar and trying to restore an old car mean that I don't really have time to learn to play another instrument. It seems a shame for it to sit in its case (as it probably has done for the last 40 years) hence me trying to work out what it is etc...

 

Regards

 

Craig

[david robertson]

If you'd like an idea of the restored value, keep an eye on the similar one that Chris Algar has listed on e-Bay at the moment, here.

Chris is the top specialist concertina dealer in the UK (possibly in the world), so he may well command a slightly better price than you or I could, but it will give you a guide.

As for restoration costs, it rather depends on whether you just want to make it playable, or make it like new. At a minimum level, it will need new pads, valves, straps, probably springs, possibly chamois seals, and re-tuning (it will almost certainly not be in modern concert pitch). By the time-honoured method of sticking a wet finger in the air, I'd say it would cost you around £250 - £300. If you want to replace the brass reeds with steel, you can add around £4 a reed. So yes, it's worth restoring, but don't expect to retire on the proceeds!

[Craige]

That's brilliant, thanks - the ebay concertina looks more or less identical. No bids on it though yet.

 

I've added some more pictures of the action(?), reeds and valves etc below. Whilst all the pads/valves seem to be present I guess they would loose their ability to create a proper seal over time. There is certainly one broken reed, the steel reeds are rusty (can they be cleaned?) and they would all need tuning. I guess the good news is the buttons, levers springs etc all seem OK. My follow on question is would it be sensible to try to get all of the reeds the same (i.e. brass or steel not a mix)? in which case which is best (although there are fewer steel ones than brass so cost may come into it)?

 

Incidentally my local music shop offered £50 for it as "an opening offer"... I appreciate he has to earn a crust but I think I'll investigate further before taking him up on this.

Edited April 3, 2008 by Craige

[Marien]

Most MacCanns I have seen originally had steel reeds.

But the lachenal MacCanns I have seen all had another kind of fret work then this lachenal.

This one has many brass reeds, could that be the original reeds?

Does anyone in the forum an idea of the original metal for the reeds in this one?

 

thanks

marien

[Craige]

The one that Chris Algar has listed on ebay at the moment looks more or less identical to this one. I've also been digging around in some of the other web info on concertinas and from the key patterns and trying to play some of the chords in Robert Gaskins publication "How to play chords on any MacCann Duet Concertina" it seems pretty certain that it is a 39 key MacCann Duet. From the serial number it dates from the late 1880s to the early 1900s - so it is pretty early as Larry Stout suggests. Chris Algar states that the one he's selling has steel reeds so it could be that the brass ones on mine are a later addition rather than the other way round. Interestingly (or not!) whilst it does need a good deal of tuning up, in general it doesn't seem that far off concert pitch, although some notes are much further out than others and quite a few are not consistent on the in and out strokes (pardon my lack of correct terminology) and there are 2 or 3 keys that don't sound on the "out stroke" (i.e. when pulling the bellows outwards) and there are a couple that rattle.

 

Amazing what you can find on the web when you start digging. Thanks to all for your help thus far - if anyone can add to the info thus far, esp the questions about reeds it would be much appreciated.

 

Regards

 

Craig