Marien Posted March 14, 2009 Posted March 14, 2009 Another concertina on ebay, certainly not a Jeffries. but interesting for its shape. http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Concertina-Squ...93%3A1|294%3A50 It has some pictures of military people on it. I would not be surprised if someone said it was civil warish (1860-ish). It looks as if it´s really been in a battlefield.
Stephen Chambers Posted March 14, 2009 Posted March 14, 2009 I would not be surprised if someone said it was civil warish (1860-ish). Post Franco-Prussian War more like, so no earlier than the 1870s. Here's an even more unusually-shaped one, expressing the same nationalist/militaristic sentiments:
Marien Posted March 14, 2009 Author Posted March 14, 2009 Hi Stephen, That really is an impressing concertina. Makes me wonder when drums and music were still used to support marching in wars. I suspect that the concertina case had the shape of a helmet. But you are right, it is not the civil war it refers to but it has the elements of the German nationalism in the 19th century. The pictures on the concertina show the Prussian kings. I found the peopla that are on the photo´s. this one is Wilhelm I, who was Prussian king from 1861 to 1888, became emperor over Germany in 1871. this one is Friedrich Wilhelm (Friedrich III), who became Prussian king and German emperor the same time. and died in the year 1888. It dates the concertina about 1888 I'ld say. Surely this concertina is abused for nationalism. Nationalism was a new feature and a hot item, especially in Germany and Italy who were very fragmented before they became a nation. These instuments nowadays are not the best for playing, but if you do, maybe the steel pointed ears have some advantage in a session setting. If you put it on your seat when going to the loo, you will not have to be afraid somebody tries to sit on your concertina. On the other hand, if somebody would sit on an old like this, you may find yourself happy to have to buy another one. Marien I would not be surprised if someone said it was civil warish (1860-ish). Post Franco-Prussian War more like, so no earlier than the 1870s. Here's an even more unusually-shaped one, expressing the same nationalist/militaristic sentiments:
David Levine Posted March 15, 2009 Posted March 15, 2009 It's important not to confuse kitsch with crap. But sometimes they come together. These are perfect examples.
Marien Posted March 15, 2009 Author Posted March 15, 2009 It's important not to confuse kitsch with crap. But sometimes they come together. These are perfect examples. I agree six fold 100% on that.
Stephen Chambers Posted March 16, 2009 Posted March 16, 2009 It's important not to confuse kitsch with crap. But sometimes they come together. These are perfect examples. I agree six fold 100% on that. Well this particular piece of kitsch/crap is now heading in a West Clare direction...
David Levine Posted March 16, 2009 Posted March 16, 2009 As an oddity in the world of squeeze it is certainly worth noting and owning. But probably not for making much music on. How was it considered in its day? As more than a toy?
David Levine Posted March 16, 2009 Posted March 16, 2009 (edited) Sorry - inadvertent double post. Inadvertent double post. Edited March 17, 2009 by David Levine
Stephen Chambers Posted March 16, 2009 Posted March 16, 2009 As an oddity in the world of squeeze it is certainly worth noting and owning. An oddity in its shape - an attempt to make "more" of the inexpensive German concertina, but also a piece of history with those nationalistic plaques on it. But probably not for making much music on. How was it considered in its day? As more than a toy? I'm sure it was no worse than all the other German concertinas that were ubiquitous amongst Irish traditional players in years gone by. Anglos were pretty much unheard of, until within living memory...
Marien Posted March 16, 2009 Author Posted March 16, 2009 As an oddity in the world of squeeze it is certainly worth noting and owning. But probably not for making much music on. How was it considered in its day? As more than a toy? For a contemporary player it may be crap and kitsch, but still it is more than just an oddity in the history of concertina's. They are special historical artifacts, used for nationalistic propaganda in a military setting. These instruments have really been used for making music, and very likely to support military marches to make Prussia and Germany bigger and bigger. Where would this have ended if they would have had Wheatstone and Jeffries concertina's? Marien
Marien Posted March 16, 2009 Author Posted March 16, 2009 It's important not to confuse kitsch with crap. But sometimes they come together. These are perfect examples. I agree six fold 100% on that. Well this particular piece of kitsch/crap is now heading in a West Clare direction... Can we visit the concertina in Kilrush?
Stephen Chambers Posted March 16, 2009 Posted March 16, 2009 Where would this have ended if they would have had Wheatstone and Jeffries concertina's? Look what happened to the British Empire... Mind you, everybody was playing piano accordions by then - enough said!
Stephen Chambers Posted March 16, 2009 Posted March 16, 2009 [Can we visit the concertina in Kilrush? Would you like to arrange an appointment?
Marien Posted March 16, 2009 Author Posted March 16, 2009 It would be interesting to see your complete collection of concertina's, not soon, but when I'll be back in Clare I hope to be in the possibility to see the whole the bunch... Marien [Can we visit the concertina in Kilrush? Would you like to arrange an appointment?
Stephen Chambers Posted March 16, 2009 Posted March 16, 2009 Where would this have ended if they would have had Wheatstone and Jeffries concertina's? Look what happened to the British Empire... Mind you, everybody was playing piano accordions by then - enough said! Hmmm, maybe somebody should write a thesis about The rise of the piano accordion, and the fall of the British Empire...
Marien Posted March 17, 2009 Author Posted March 17, 2009 Hmmm, maybe somebody should write a thesis about The rise of the piano accordion, and the fall of the British Empire... Is it the empire or the curerncy that is falling? Recently 2 dollars was 1 gbp, now it is about 1.5 pounds, but what is in a currency? It is better now for exporting english concertina's to USA, and maybe they can buy some even piano accordeons then in England. Piano accordeons? Or is it just a temporary fake crisis and everbody will start playing the concertina again in the future? The fall of a nation? Hmm... What is a nation? It is actually constructed in mind, beit with hard consequences. Following this idea, the British Empire is just an idea that exists in certain minds. If nationalism is falling, English nationalism could makes place for a European feeling of unity (what would you do else if a national empire falls dow). That could end up in the same problems on a larger scale, and even more piano accordions. In the end we are all on the same football but who will except the idea that the world is one community (or could we call that a nation)? Should I sell my concertina´s or my piano accordion to pay my study if I would write a thesis about that?
Stephen Chambers Posted March 17, 2009 Posted March 17, 2009 Hmmm, maybe somebody should write a thesis about The rise of the piano accordion, and the fall of the British Empire... Is it the empire or the curerncy that is falling? I'm speaking historically, of the demise of the British Empire around half a century ago. If only we'd kept to playing our concertinas...
Hereward Posted March 17, 2009 Posted March 17, 2009 You won't have to worry about anyone accidently sitting on it The person sitting on it might be a tad put out. Ian
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