The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-324.


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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: Lachenal & Co No 60925. A common form of the Lachenal two-row 20+1-Key anglo concertina, with ann oval paper dealers' label claiming "Manufactured expressly for Joseph Higham , Manchester.", a dealer supplying the Concertina Bands of the region.. It has the standard style of ends and better fretwork that appear on the stained red mahogany instruments, among the tens of thousands of basic 2- and 3-row anglo concertinas produced by Lachenals. Figured red-stained mahogany ends, five-fold bellows, fine metal case bearing owner's name, W Hall, Bury, and containg his photograph in Bandsman uniform, and playing an anglo that may well be this very instrument.

Concertina Summary: Lachenal & Co No 60925. A common form of the Lachenal two-row 20+1-Key anglo concertina, with the standard style of ends and fretwork produced by Lachenals.

Owner or Collection: Concertina Museum, Belper

Maker: Lachenal & Co.

Maker Links: Concertina, Lachenal & Co No 41596. A good source of information is at: www.concertina.com/lachenal/index.htm - with a study of Production details & Serial Numbers here: www.concertina.com/chambers/lachenal-production/index.htm

Region of Manufacture: London

Main Maker's Label Wording: Maker's Label absent - A dealer's label.

Principal Serial Number: Serial Number 609251.

System Type: 20 + 1 Key Anglo system - the standard layout of the basic 20-key format.

Source Catalogue No: The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-324.

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.

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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.