The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-041.



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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: C Wheatstone No 2600. 48-Key English system, No 2600, with the now standard "By HER Majesty's" label, and the many post-1848 design features introduced by Louis Lachenal during his time as Manager at Wheatstone's are now standard. The frets are machine-cut, with the reeds now in round-ended brass reed-frames, and the large annular pan-label bears Wheatstone & Co's address. Not in the Wayne Ledgers.

Concertina Summary: C Wheatstone No 2600. 48-Key English system, No 2600, with the now standard "By HER Majesty's" label, and exhibiting all the post-1848 design features introduced by Louis Lachenal during his time as Manager at Wheatstone's Conduit St premises. The frets are now machine-cut, (and now have a bevelled edge to the fretworked ends, and in this instance, a paler, grainy rosewood) The reeds are now always in round-ended brass reed-frames, and the large annular pan-label bearing Wheatstone & Co's address. The "Silk-reinforced Bottom Bellows Bout" feature no longer appears. Not in the Wayne Ledgers.

Owner or Collection: Concertina Museum, Belper

Maker: C Wheatstone

Maker Links: Concertina, Charles Wheatstone No 2600 http://www.concertina.com/wheatstone/index.htm

Wheatstone Ledgers Link: Not in the Ledgers

Region of Manufacture: London

Main Maker's Label Wording: "By her Majesty's Letters Patent, C Wheatstone, Inventor, 20 Conduit Street, Regent Street, London"

System Type: 48-Key Treble English system

Source Catalogue No: The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-041.






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.