Item Type: Concertina
SummaryFull Description: An early and unusual Jabez Austin 48-Key rosewood-ended English concertina, Serial No 169, with the "Jabez Austin, late with Mr Joseph Skates (sic) Manufacturer, 30 Bedford Street, Commercial Rd East" label wording. Square-ended brass reeds, brass tongues, and serial no 169 stamped on INNER face of pans only. There are internal stamps of "JA", the inner faces of the rosewood frets are gloss varnished, and the trio of securing screws in strap, finger-rest and upper fret areas are of broad, slighly-domed form - all unusual features. The 4-Fold green leather bellows have the common "Gilt stars and dots" papers, and have the early feature of the silk-reinforced bottom bout. The Serial No 169, is in an unusual font on the LH baffle. with original rosewood veneered case. Many similarities with the earliest Prowse instrument in the collection, C-251 , William Prowse 48-Key English serial No 13. Concertina Summary: An early and unusual Jabez Austin 48-Key rosewood-ended English concertina, Serial No 169, with the "Jabez Austin, late with Mr Joseph Skates (sic) Manufacturer, 30 Bedford Street, Commercial Rd East" label wording. Serial No 169, with original rosewood veneered case. Owner or Collection: Concertina Museum, Belper Maker: Jabez Austin Maker Links: Wes Williams' survey of minor concertina makers has an entry about Jabez Austin here: [http://www.concertinas.org.uk/others.htm#Austin], and Richard Carlin's interview with Frank Butler has much information about Austin, George Jones, and other early Wheatstone craftsmen who went on to become makers see: http://www.concertina.com/carlin/frank-butler-interview/index.htm. George Case: see his 1860 price list at: www.concertina.com/pricelists/case/Case-MDRA-1860.pdf and address data at: www.concertinas.org.uk/others.htm#Case Keith, Prowse information at: www.concertinas.org.uk/others.htm#KeithProwse Region of Manufacture: London Main Maker's Label Wording: Jabez Austin, late with Mr Joseph Skates (sic) Manufacturer, 30 Bedford Street, Commercial Rd East System Type: 48-Key Treble English system Source Catalogue No: The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-261. |
Maker DetailsJabez Austin originally worked for Wheatstone, but set up on his own account about 1850. Jabez Austin appears as a concertina maker in a directory listing for 1856 as Austin, Jabez, 3 Crombie's Row, Commercial road east. He died in 1857, and his business was taken over by his pupil, George Jones. |
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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.