412.132-62 Sets of free reeds with flexible air reservoir

English system concertina. Serial number 1668. Oval paper label: 'By Her Majesty's Letters Patent, C. Wheatstone, Inventor, 20 Conduit St., Regent St., London.' Amboyna ends built to standard width: 6.25 inches across parallel sides. Fretwork with pine backing. . 48 ivory buttons, black accidentals, stamped with note names. Green leather straps, nickel screws. Four-fold green leather bellows, gold star papers. Square-end brass reeds.

Charles Wheatstone (1802-1875) best known for his work in the field of physics, patented the English concertina in 1844. 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 illustration accompanying the 1829 patent.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
M40a-1996
Date
circa 1848
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 152 x 160 x 185 mm
CATEGORY
Musical Instruments
LOCATION
In storage
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Collection Information

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