Early
Wheatstone
Wheatstone no.908 treble concertina, built late 1844. Only 109
instruments were built that year.
Description:
- Rosewood ends, with wooden (spruce) baffle.
- 48 Ivory keys.
- German silver reeds in hand cut reed frames (square). The instrument has
the early type valves; straight (square) hand cut.
- New bellows; an exact copy, including color and papers (early gold star
pattern), of the original.
- The instrument is in its original high pitch (A=452.5 Hz.) and tuned in
mean-tone.
Because of the high pitch and the mean tone tuning I can't use the instrument
in combination with
a piano. I use it mainly during lecture/recitals. It is
perfect for the early solo repertoire, such as the
Case Serenade, the Morceaux
by Blagrove, etc..
The instrument is in perfect condition. Although it has German silver reeds
(which have hardly been
touch over the last 150 years), the sound projection and
equilibrium on stage is amazingly good.
The sound in combination with the mean tone tuning opens a door to a different
world. It gives a taste
of mid-Victorian music culture.
This instrument has been restored by the Concertina Connection.
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