The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-009.



Previous Section Summary Help Next

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

Fingering System

Fingering System: English

Fingering System Site Links: www.concertina.com/english

Key/Buttons Summary: 48 ivory keys, (24/Left and 24/right) in a continuing progression from the 24-key 'Symphonium' layout. This however, is still not in the "standard 48-Key 'English' Layout. The accidentals keys are again 'cored' (as in most of the previous models) and the natural notes stamped with note-names. Its white-keys are also stamped on their flat tops with their note names, except the 'C' Notes, which are stained red. This practice was adopted to help guide and direct the amateur musicians (who were beginning to take up the fashionable new instrument in ever greater numbers) to locate and play the correct notes. Throughout the nineteenth century, note names appear on the white keys upon the vast majority of Wheatstone concertinas with ivory keys, with the substitution of red-stained keys for the 'C' keys on instruments from about No. 230 onwards.

Keys/Buttons Material: Ivory, with accidental keys with black cores, and Cs stained red.

Keys/Buttons Labelling: Natural notes have note-names stamped on their flat end

Keys/Buttons Bushing: Yes, probably done when the key substition was made at Conduit Street, since the "filled hole" of the missing High B is of non-bushed diameter, yet all other existing keys are bushed.

Keys/Buttons Base Mounting: [Still to be examined]





Previous Section Summary Help Next

Please email comments or reports of errors to


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.