412.132-62 Sets of free reeds with flexible air reservoir

Concertina built to just intonation. English system concertina. Serial number 1320. Oval paper label: 'By His Majesty's Letters Patent, C. Wheatstone, Inventor, 20 Conduit St., Regent St., London.' Rosewood ends built to standard width: 6.25 inches between parallel sides. Pine backing behind the fretwork. 48 ivory buttons, black accidentals, stamped with note names, bushed. Green leather straps with nickel screws. Four-fold green leather bellows with gold star papers, one paper labelled: 'Just.' Three nickel fittings on left-hand end frames. Square-end brass reeds with circular paper reed pan label. Hexagonal rosewood case.

The following information is recorded regarding the purchase of this instrument in the ledgers of the Wheatstone & Co. concertina factory (http://www.horniman.info): 10 Sep 1847: AJ Ellis (C104a, p.67) 17 Feb 1855: Messrs Boosey (C1049, p.45). The first purchaser of this instrument appears to have been Alexander J. Ellis (1814-1890), inventor of the cents system and author of the paper 'On the Musical Scales of Various Nations'. As indicated by the paper label on the bellows, this instrument was tuned to 'just' intonation, rather than the more conventional equal temperament used today, and demonstrates his awareness of the difference between these scales. It was perhaps even made specially to order. This instrument had a second famous buyer: Messrs Boosey, of the musical instruments company.

object
MUSEUM NUMBER
M114a-1996
PLACE
COLLECTION
MEASUREMENTS
overall: 152 x 161 x 184 mm
CATEGORY
Musical Instruments
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Collection Information

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