The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-301.



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

Summary

Full Description: 48-Key Lachenal & Co English system No 25978, with Dealer's label of "Thomas Dawkins & Co". A very high quality rosewood-ended model, with gilt embossed bellows and straps, silver capped keys. This model exhibits all the post-1848 design features developed by Lachenal. This quality model has the divided end and bellows-frame, and the frets are machine-cut. The reeds in this and later models are now always in round-ended brass reed-frames, and the large annular pan-label bearing Lachenal & Co's "Lit James St" address. Silver-capped metal keys, gilt-embossed green leather bellows and thumb-straps, floral green/gilt papers. Large circular reed-pan label, an annular circle of white fabric sub-fret baffles. Original rosewood case.

Concertina Summary: Lachenal & Co 48-key English concertina, No 25978. A very high quality rosewood-ended model, with gilt embossed bellows and straps, silver capped keys. Dealer's label of "Thomas Dawkins & Co", floral bellows papers, rosewood veneered case.

Owner or Collection: Concertina Museum, Belper

Maker: Lachenal & Co

Maker Links: Concertina, Lachenal & Co, No 25978. http://www.concertina.com/lachenal/index.htm - with a study of Production details & Serial Numbers here: http://www.concertina.com/chambers/lachenal-production/index.htm

Region of Manufacture: London

Main Maker's Label Wording: Oval glazed paper dealer's label of "Thomas Dawkins & Co, Manufacturers, 17 Charterhouse Street, London E. C."

System Type: Standard 48-Key Treble English system

Source Catalogue No: The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-301.






Maker Details

The Lachenal company made concertinas between 1858 and 1933.

Louis Lachenal, a Swiss engineer, started to work with Wheatstone in the early 1840s producing screws. By 1847 he was producing complete instruments for Wheatstone in his workshops. On expiry of Wheatstone's 1844 patent in 1858, Lachenal began to produce concertinas bearing his own name. He died in 1861, and the firm was then managed by his widow Elisabeth.

Elisabeth Lachenal passed on the company to a group of employees in 1872, and the company name was changed to Lachenal & Co.. In 1883 the company owners were Richard Ballinger, Louis Charrière, Thomas William Saunders, John Saunders, William Bywater Fisher, and Charles Crabb, with Charles Crabb (brother of John Crabb) retiring in that year. During the 1880s and 1890s various new concertina developments were introduced including The Maccann Duet, the Bowing Valve, the 12 sided Edeophone, and the Crane Duet, which was made by Lachenal for Crane of Liverpool. By 1907 Lachenal was completely owned by the Saunders family. During the late 1920s the company suffered economic problems, and finally closed in 1933.


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.