412.132-62 Sets of free reeds with flexible air reservoir

English system concertina. Serial number 19430. Oval paper label: 'By Her Majesty's Letters Patent, C. Wheatstone, Inventor, 20 Conduit St., Regent St., London.' Six one quarter inches mahogany ends. Fretwork with white leather backing. Forty eight flat top nickel buttons, bushed. Green leather straps with nickel screws. Four-fold green leather bellows with gold floral papers. Round-end steel reeds with riveted tongues.

In 1844, Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875) best known for his work in the field of physics, patented the 48-button English-system concertina. The instrument had already been in production for some years following his 1829 patent for the symphonium, a free reed mouth organ. A bellows-blown model was shown in an illustration accompanying the 1829 patent.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
M115a-1996
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 160 x 163 x 182 mm
MATERIAL/TECHNIQUE
mahogany; leather; paper; metal; textile; nickel; steel
CATEGORY
Musical Instruments
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