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Description: | Many English-system concertinas produced by the Wheatstone factory were aimed at the upper end of the market. They were relatively costly, like this example with its brass inlay, richly patterned paper bellows and tooled leather. During the 1850s the concertina became very fashionable, and the Wheatstone factory reached the height of its output. The price paid for the instrument by Messrs(?) Milsom on 4 June 1858 is noted at £9/2/- in Wheatstone & Co. Factory ledger for 1857-1859 (p.27).
The early repertoire of the concertina reflected the musical tastes of wealthy amateur musicians. It consisted of arrangements of opera arias, and well-known folk songs, in addition to the pieces written specially for the instrument, often with piano accompaniment. One of the first professional musicains to popularise the English-system concertina was the virtuoso Giulio Regondi (1822-72). He captivated audiences all over Britain with performances of his expressive and technically demanding compositions.
English-system concertina. Serial number 10660. Oval paper label: 'By Her Majesty's Letters Patent, C. Wheatstone, Inventor, 20 Conduit St., Regent St., London'. 6¼ inch diameter rosewood ends, simple white leather backing, bevelled, leather covered finger rests. 48 glass buttons, the accidentals (sharps and flats) coloured black and the C notes coloured red. Green leather straps, with gold tooling and brass screws.
Five-fold green leather bellows, gilt embossed with green and gold papers, labelled 'Wheatstone & Co. Inventors and Patentees, 20 Conduit St, London' on lowest left fold. Round-end brass reeds.
English system. Serial number 10660. Oval paper label: "By Her Majesty's Letters Patent, C. Wheatstone, Inventor, 20 Conduit St., Regent St., London.". 6.25" diameter rosewood ends, simple white leather binding, bevelled, leather covered finger rests. 48 glass buttons, bushed. Green leather straps, with gold tooling and brass screws.
Five-fold green leather bellows, gilt embossed with green and gold papers, labelled 'Wheatstone & Co. Inventors and Patentees, 20 Conduit St, London" on lowest left fold. Round-end brass reeds.
caption: Half-lateral view of object no. M319a-1996 from right. | Publisher: | http://www.horniman.ac.uk/ | Rights holder: | Horniman Museum and Gardens | Subjects: | concertinas wood metal paper glass gold leather copper alloy 412.132-62-8 Sets of free reeds with flexible air reservoir with keyboard | Source: | Horniman Museum | Identifier: | oai:oai.horniman.ac.uk:object-2999 | Go to resource |
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