The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-026.



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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: An 1845 period 48-key "Single Action" Wheatstone English system, No 1018, with an early appearance within the Collection's Wheatstones of the "Circular Fret" design, in which intricate fretwork is replaced by an annular space between outer and inner parts of the ends, revealing a circular view of the sub-fret pine boards. Also it exhibits a second appearance within the Collection of the "single action" format, in which a single-sided reed-pan had reeds which only sounded on the "press" of the bellows, and the air valves within would allows the bellows to take in more air on the "Draw" (See also Collection Items C-015 , A single action circular fret No 612). "Single Action" layout, and and the circular fret pattern, did not become a "Standard" Wheatstone design, though it was also tried by the later makers such as Joseph Scates. This version has end-bolts in the centre of each side of the end-frames (the conventional placing), and has square-ended nickel-tongued reeds and divided end-frame and bellows-frame, with the early "Circle & Dot" bellows papers.

Concertina Summary: Charles Wheatstone No 1018, A Circular Fret, single-action 48-Key English. Sold August 16th 1845, to "Simpson", and the entry marked "S" for "Single Action".

Owner or Collection: Concertina Museum, Belper

Maker: C Wheatstone

Maker Links: Concertina, Charles Wheatstone No 1018 http://www.concertina.com/wheatstone/index.htm

Wheatstone Ledgers Link: www.horniman.info/WNCMARC/C1046/PAGES/C2P0380S.HTM

Region of Manufacture: London

Main Maker's Label Wording: "By his Majesty's Letters Patent, C Wheatstone, Inventor, 20 Conduit Street, Regent Street, London." In the ("C" under "s M" variant).

System Type: Singale action concertina, with Standard 48-Key Treble English system

Source Catalogue No: The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-026.






Maker Details

Wheatstone & Co. were founded in 1824, and survived until 1974. In 1975 the company was refounded by Steve Dickinson.

C. Wheatstone & Co was established in London, England by Charles Wheatstone (uncle to Sir Charles and William Dolman Wheatstone) at the beginning of the 19th Century. They moved to 20 Conduit Street, London, England in 1824. After the death of William in 1862, the firm was taken over by Edward Chidley, a distant relation. Edward Chidley died in 1899, and the firm was then controlled by his sons Edward and Percy. In 1905 the firm moved to 15 West Street.

After the death of the younger Edward Chidley in 1943, part of the firm was sold to Besson & Co., who were taken over by Boosey & Hawkes in 1948. In 1958 they moved to Duncan Terrace, Islington, North London. In 1961 the Duncan Terrace property was sold, and the remains of Wheatstone & Co. were moved to the Boosey & Hawkes factory in Edgware, Middlesex. The company ceased trading on the death of its last employee in 1974.

The remains of the company were purchased by Steve Dickinson in 1975.


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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.