412.132

Symphonium. Serial number 188. Engraved on front plate: 'By His Majesty's Letter Patent, C Wheatstone, Inventor, 20 Conduit Street, Regent Street, London.' Twenty-four ivory tipped nickel push-levers, naturals cylindrical and accidentals spherical, with note names stamped on the metal sides. Mouth-blown via the pearl mounted embouchure. Gold reed tongues, mounted in pairs, secured by nickel plates with five screws. The symphonium, patented in 1829 by Charles Wheatstone, gave rise to the concertina, seraphone, harmonium and other metal free reed instruments. This object was once the property of Frank E Butler, grandson of concertina maker George Jones.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
M16-1996
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 73 x 70 x 37 mm
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