After a lousy experience trying to sell on Ebay (which is a dandy place
for buyers, but a real snake pit for sellers), I am now looking to sell
some primo English concertinas directly.
This
is a rare Baritone (transposes down an octave)
concertina, a original Lachenal Edeophone (their luxe model), in A440
tuning and perfect working condition, serial
#39308, which places its creation around 1911. It has long scale steel
reeds, and for a baritone, it speaks very quickly;
you'll never find a faster baritone.. Its timbre is a lovely rich
mellow low range, not the harshness of most trebles. Its keyboard
fingering is the same as a treble, except that: every note down an octave.
Once upon a time, before Ebay when concertinas were incredibly hard to
find, someone suggested putting an ad in the Salvation Army
newsletters...since the Salvationists had long used them in their
street services. I did....and it call but rained concertinas of
all sorts...the treasured instruments of uncles, aunts,
grandparents...passed to Glory as they have it. All needed work,
I sent them to them to the Button Box for restoration. If the
restored box wasn't better than the best I'd previously found, I sent
it back to the Button Box and they sold it. So I've played all
kinds of tinas, high and low end (I started our with a Lachenal student
model; it was like running through sand), Aeolas and Edeophones.
I came to this: Wheatstone made the best trebles and tenors, but their
Aeolas, their premium line, were nothing really special, rarely much
better than their trebles...and their extended range Aeolas are
heavy.
But Lachenal's premium line Edeophones are wonderful boxes...lovely baritones and sopranos with great tone and responsiveness.
Aboveon the left, serial number
39308,
above on the right the Edeoiphone trademark, somewhat obscured by
having been replated (in the original nickel, not shiny chrome)
Catches have been replaced with a heavier grade of rock band road case catch for greater security.
Last one!
I bought this concertina from Wim Wakker (of Conceertina
Connection)
back in 2000 after he'd completely restored it: new valves and pads,
voiced and tuned plus a new seven fold bellows, all of which is still
in fine shape: all notes speak and are in tune, bellows tight. A
delight to play. It comes with wrist straps, steel reeds, velcro
squares for attaching the Microvox concertina microphone (not
included) and domed buttons Over the years since, the vneer
trim has come off here and there on the ends and in one place on a
side....but it plays sweet and quick
.
In order to see more, double-click on most of these
images for an enlarged version
A video of this box being played accompanied by piano
Honeysuckle Cottage Waltz by Jonathan Jensen
Two Sound files from this box:
Wells Humour,
tune attributed to Purcell, late 1600s
Bloomsbury Market:
traditional English Country Dance tune from 1703
Full renovation in 2000 by Wim Wakker of the Concertina Connection
included 7 fold bellows, still supple as can be...
The concertina sat there for these pictures: it was not blocked open,
There is veneer missing on the side and ends, affecting
playing not at all. Also the nickel plate has gone dull.
Inside is what counts and that's in good shape: bellows, valves, pads,
all's still good.
All notes speak and are in tune.
The serial number can be seen on the action board
Note the pristine pads, valves & date of the
2000 CC renovation
Price: $2500.
If shipped in the U.S., an extra $150. or more for double heavy-duty boxing,
insurance and postage (Yes, it costs that much)
Please contact sdean@sdean.net. Alternately call or text
845-797-1897
Please: no tire-kicking or low-ball gaming; serious interest only.
Local pickup preferred to assure your satisfaction with the
instrument; if
you're in the Northeast (I live in Kingston, NY, 90 miles north of
NYC), we could drive to meet.
