The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-256.



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Item Type: Concertina

Summary Labels and Serial Numbers End Frets Fingering System Straps and Holding Devices Fret Baffle Action Board Reeds and Reed Pans Bellows Case and Other

Summary

Full Description: A 48-key "Keith, Prowse & Co"- labelled English with 2-ply Rosewood ends, silver capped keys, curliqued nickel inlays. The previous gilt-embossed green leather thumb-straps ar missing. Gilt-embossed 5-fold green leather bellows with gilt floral patterned white papers. Original rosewood-veneered hexagonal case, with lock, key and ivory embouchure.

Concertina Summary: A 48-key "Keith, Prowse & Co"-labelled English, No 1341, with nickel-silver inlaid Rosewood ends, silver keys, gilt embossed bellows and finger-rest leathers. Possibly partly of Geo Case manufacture.

Owner or Collection: Concertina Museum, Belper

Maker: Keith, Prowse & Co, with possible Geo Case parts or manufacture.

Maker Links: A good survey by Wes Williams of the Prowse family's various addresses and some noted instruments is at: www.concertinas.org.uk/others.htm#KeithProwse

Region of Manufacture: London

Main Maker's Label Wording: "Keith, Prowse & Co, Manufacturers, 48 Cheapside, London"

Principal Serial Number: 1341 throughout, in ink on some parts - (though the number on the RH sub-fret baffle is an unclear stamp of "133".

System Type: Standard 48-Key Treble English system

Source Catalogue No: The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-256.






Maker Details

Keith,Prowse & Co. took over from William Dove about 1852.

Keith,Prowse & Co.were a company that traded under variations of the name. Mr. W Prowse, who ran the company from 1846 to 1865, purchased 16 concertinas from Wheatstone during 1851, so were already established as a concertina trader before the takeover of Dove. By 1888 they were selling rebadged Lachenals from 48 Cheapside,London.

The rarely seen Thomas Prowse label is not connected. He operated from 13 Hanway St,London from 1835-60 and from 15 Hanway St. from 1860-68, and is listed as buying various instruments in early Wheatstone records.


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The Concertina Museum Collection

Created August 2009 by Neil Wayne
Last Modified 07 February 2012 by Neil Wayne, Chris Flint, Wes Williams

This page created Tuesday 14 February 2012.