saguaro_squeezer Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 I'm about to buy a Wheatstone Crane Duet from Chris at Barleycorn. The S/N is 35347 and it's showing 8 Aug, 1941 as it's birthdate. In the ledger, it calls out E 55key FRETST. Can anyone help with the meaning for FRETST? Thanks for any help, Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Dunk Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 Hi Rod, The ledger entry doesn't say FRETST, I read it as Frets T and a few lines down another is written Fret T. Not sure what it means, perhaps the pattern of the fretwork? Can it be T for Triumph? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saguaro_squeezer Posted August 1, 2009 Author Share Posted August 1, 2009 Hi Tallship, You're right, it is 'FRETS T.' That sounds plausable. I know that there are other entries that say 'Duet' which may be Maccann? Then again, it was 8/41 and probably not as pleasant a time as others. Thanks for your reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 I read it as Frets T and a few lines down another is written Fret T. Not sure what it means, perhaps the pattern of the fretwork? Can it be T for Triumph? No, not Triumph. The model number (2nd column) for #35350 is 37A, which indicates a "duet", while #35353 is a model 6, which is an English. The "T" would seem to indicate either a fret design or the person who would be doing the fretwork. I think I recall other entries that say FRETS K. Maybe also with other initials? I'm leaning toward the initial indicating a particular craftsman (subcontractor?) rather than a particular design, since the "T" is associated with instruments in a wide variety of sizes, even #35309, which is a 3½" miniature. (On that instrument, the SP for a model designation just means "special", which could be just about anything.) I know that there are other entries that say 'Duet' which may be Maccann? Yes. Wheatstone never used the Maccann name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 I'm leaning toward the initial indicating a particular craftsman (subcontractor?).... Aha! Page 37 in the same ledger has many instruments with the notation "FRETS BY K" and others with "FRETS BY T". So it would appear that "K" and "T" are two individuals who either designed or cut the fretwork, possibly both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 (edited) In the ledger, it calls out E 55key FRETST. Can anyone help with the meaning for FRETST? Rod, A photograph of the instrument could be a big help, and you don't mention if it has metal ends - which could be very significant here in that a few pages earlier it says (against the miniature 35309) "TURNED IN FRET. T." So does T signify "turned-in"? But, if it doesn't have metal ends, I'll have to think again... Edited August 1, 2009 by Stephen Chambers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 Aha! Page 37 in the same ledger has many instruments with the notation "FRETS BY K" and others with "FRETS BY T". So it would appear that "K" and "T" are two individuals who either designed or cut the fretwork, possibly both. Hmmm, maybe I should have gone back another page? Only it does seem rather a strange thing to be recording in the ledgers, but then again, it would have been a strange time to be trying to keep a business (that wasn't directly linked with "war-work") going - in fact the following year production of anything "non-essential" became pretty much impossible... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 But, if it doesn't have metal ends, I'll have to think again... Nope. Notation "E", for "ebony". (Others on the same page have "N" for "nickel", though I think that "NP" is more often used for that.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saguaro_squeezer Posted August 1, 2009 Author Share Posted August 1, 2009 The labelling is reversed but in the photos, it's (obviously) the 55key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Chambers Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 Notation "E", for "ebony".(Others on the same page have "N" for "nickel", though I think that "NP" is more often used for that.) Yes Jim, but we both know how "consistent" the ledgers are (not)! But then, they were kept for production purposes, not for our edification... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted August 1, 2009 Share Posted August 1, 2009 ...we both know how "consistent" the ledgers are (not)! But then, they were kept for production purposes, not for our edification... (IM)precisely! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saguaro_squeezer Posted August 2, 2009 Author Share Posted August 2, 2009 I'm assuming that the model 7x were Cranes. Mine's listed as a model 74. Now if only I could do as well with my Lachenal EC. The Morse, no problem! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimLucas Posted August 2, 2009 Share Posted August 2, 2009 I'm assuming that the model 7x were Cranes. Mine's listed as a model 74. Up into the 20's are English models. 30's through 41 are "Duet" (Maccann system). 50's and 60's seem to be anglos. 70's through 80 (potentially 81, but did Wheatstone make any Cranes with that many buttons?) are Crane/Triumph. Now if only I could do as well with my Lachenal EC. I'm sure somebody here could tell you what model it is. Maybe even an approximate age. But with no ledgers, it's hard to say more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saguaro_squeezer Posted August 4, 2009 Author Share Posted August 4, 2009 70's through 80 (potentially 81, but did Wheatstone make any Cranes with that many buttons?) are Crane/Triumph. Thank you Jim. I was looking in the price lists to see about a model 74 but did not see one. Did the SA keep records of who was assigned a particular insturment? That could be interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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