Ebay Aeola Duet

[spindizzy]

You might have missed this one (posted under antiques)

A 67 button wheatstone aeola duet Here

 

Maybe a bit pricey?

 

Edited to say - of course it isn't an Aeola! see following debate :-)

Edited October 5, 2008 by spindizzy

[Pete Dunk]

Well it has raised ends but it's hexagonal so not an Æola methinks; no serial number given so it's impossible to check out. Looks a bit pricey to me too.

 

You might have missed this one (posted under antiques)

A 67 button wheatstone aeola duet Here

 

Maybe a bit pricey?

[Dirge]

Never mind a bit pricey; that's the first duet aeola I've seen with six sides...

[ben]

The seller suggests that one can buy this concertina "to play or to place it in a Museum". I am not willing to pay for something so expensive that I cannot play...to place it in a museum. We are not exactly the Indiana Jones of concertinas. We leave that to the benefactors of the Horniman museum.

[jdms]

You might have missed this one (posted under antiques)

A 67 button wheatstone aeola duet Here

 

Maybe a bit pricey?

 

 

The serial number is visible in one of the pictures: 26673. The ledger reads "Mar 4th [1915] / No. 39 / Duet Nickel Hex 67 Keys / 61 / [266]73."

 

jdms

[Stephen Chambers]

You might have missed this one (posted under antiques)

A 67 button wheatstone aeola duet Here

 

Maybe a bit pricey?

It's been for sale on eBay for a long time, it was last mentioned here on 31st July: Wheatstone Mccann Duet On Ebay

 

Mind you, did you see the price of his melophone? (Wrongly described as a melodeon. )

[JimLucas]

A 67 button wheatstone aeola duet Here

Well it has raised ends but it's hexagonal so not an Æola methinks...

...that's the first duet aeola I've seen with six sides...

'Tain't an Æola, nor does the seller claim it is.

 

Was spindizzy misled by the word "Æola" on the label in the case? That's not a description of the instrument, just a standard Wheatstone label, noting that they are "Patentees & Manufacturers of Concertinas and Æolas".

[Pete Dunk]

We are not exactly the Indiana Jones of concertinas. We leave that to the benefactors of the Horniman museum.

This raises another issue, one that is making me increasingly uncomfortable. As Chris Timson frequently points out we are simply the keepers of these lovely and precious instruments. They will out live us and go on to bring joy to a whole new generation of keen and appreciative players, but how do we ensure that they go to players and not investors?

 

This whole subject was brought sharply into focus recently when I had to consider what my wishes would be in the event that Sally predeceased me or that we died at the same time. As much as I love them my family and beneficiaries are anything but musical and we'd hate to see our collection of players instruments disappearing into a loft or worse still flogged off on ebay by loveable but entirely ignorant members of the family.

 

It's time someone far cleverer than I set up a charitable trust that the owners and lovers of (hard-working) historical instruments could bequeath them to if the unthinkable happens. Most of us are uncomfortable thinking about our mortality but it's an inevitable fact that we all have to face.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Pete.

[JimLucas]

As Chris Timson frequently points out we are simply the keepers of these lovely and precious instruments. They will out live us and go on to bring joy to a whole new generation of keen and appreciative players, but how do we ensure that they go to players and not investors?

Don't bail out the banks?

Seriously, though:

 

This whole subject was brought sharply into focus recently when I had to consider what my wishes would be in the event that Sally predeceased me or that we died at the same time. As much as I love them my family and beneficiaries are anything but musical and we'd hate to see our collection of players instruments disappearing into a loft or worse still flogged off on ebay by loveable but entirely ignorant members of the family.

 

It's time someone far cleverer than I set up a charitable trust that the owners and lovers of (hard-working) historical instruments could bequeath them to if the unthinkable happens. Most of us are uncomfortable thinking about our mortality but it's an inevitable fact that we all have to face.

Frankly, I would no more want to depend on the judgement of some "charitable trust" -- whose trustees could change without my consent or even my knowledge -- than I would my relatives.

 

For me it is:

1. These particular items [a listing of instruments, books, or whatever else] go to person A, if (s)he wants them.
   
2. These particular items [another list] go to person B, if....
   
3. Etc.
   
4. Any remaining concertinas are to be sold, with the proceeds going to the estate, less a reasonable commission. The sales shall be handled by person X, if still alive, of sound mind, and willing. Otherwise, the sales shall be handled by person Y, under the same condition. Otherwise, by person Z. It shall be entirely up to the designated seller to determine to whom each instrument will be sold, and at what price, and what amount shall constitute "a reasonable commission", save that it not exceed the amount received for the sale.
   
5. Any remaining printed or recorded music is to be sold, with the proceeds going to the estate, less a reasonable commission. The sales shall be handled by ....
   
6. All remaining items of my collection of science fiction literature are to be sold, with the proceeds going to the estate, less a reasonable commission. The sales shall be handled by ....
   
7. Etc.
   

Of course, this procedure requires that I fully trust those individuals whom I have designated to handle individual sales to do so in a manner that I would approve of if I were alive. Note also the designation of more than one individual, in a priority order, to protect against the untimely death or disability of a particular individual leaving the whole thing to chance, after all.

 

Note also that I can similarly give a priority list of "heirs" for any particular item, e.g., "If F wants my bass Æola English, she may have it. Otherwise D may have it, if he wishes. Otherwise S shall sell it to whomever he deems appropriate at whatever price (including zero) he deems appropriate." And I could even include further restrictions, saying (e.g.) that F may have it for a price of $1000, otherwise D may have it for a price of $3000, otherwise S shall sell it.

 

Of course, if you have many items which you wish to "protect" in such manner, such detail could turn into quite a bit of work, and might even need to be updated periodically, with consequent expense for the legal registration. How much effort is "worth it" depends on how strongly you feel about your "custody" of each item.

 

Edited to insert a missing word.

Edited October 4, 2008 by JimLucas

[David Levine]

I don't think it's so bad if a collector ends up buying concertinas or other instruments.

The Japanese have been buying lots of such American instruments as mandolins and banjos.

People have been upset because these American heirlooms are leaving their native country.

Most are being played but some have ended up in the hands of wealthy collectors.

A collector keeps the instrument alive until the next player gets his hands on it.

Collectors can be viewed as private conservators.

 

I suppose all of us are gear-heads to some extent -

but the instruments are only things that will outlive us.

The music itself will outlive everything.

[spindizzy]

Was spindizzy misled by the word "Æola" on the label in the case? That's not a description of the instrument, just a standard Wheatstone label, noting that they are "Patentees & Manufacturers of Concertinas and Æolas".

 

Yes indeed, I was ..... how embarassing not to be able to count 6 properly

 

Still, it started an interesting debate on what should happen to our concertinas etc.

Looking at current prices, I suspect that if my unsuspecting relatives put them on ebay, they'll probably get a moderate price and the instrument will go to another player...