Mystery English

[leahmac]

Recently, a friend in Scotland hauled this old English concertina out of a closet and explained she'd bought it for 5 pounds in a junk shop (!). She doesn't play, and she doesn't know anything about it...I, of course, am intrigued to know more. Photos are attached.

 

It's clearly an English concertina, a bit wheezy but more or less playable. The box seems to be original, though has been re-lined. The oval with the makers label on the right side is missing (filled in with a patch of leather).

 

Features include:

 

* the wooden fretwork is in an unusual pattern - I haven't seen this anywhere else, yet

* end-bolts have washers on them

* papers on the bellows have a quite ornate pattern, made to fit the shape

* we found the serial number 1535 inside both ends, but no other marks

 

If anyone has any ideas about make or age, I'd love to hear them.

 

Leah

Edited August 4, 2008 by leahmac

[Pete Dunk]

Looking at the design on the papers my guess would be that it's a Rock Chidley.