Early Wheatstone Duett System Duet Concertina
Directory
Wheatstone's early “duett” concertinas look very much like
early Anglo-German instruments, but with different internal construction
and a true "duet" arrangement where each button plays the same note on
both push and pull.
The keyboard is identical to the central notes of the later Maccann Duet Concertina,
and anyone who can play a Maccann can pick up a Wheatstone Duett and play
immediately in the keys of C or G.
The Wheatstone tutor for this instrument (reproduced in full here) was
deposited at the British Museum 28 July 1855, and was probably published after
1850 (the previous large deposit of Wheatstone publications).
In addition to
the tutor, Wheatstone & Co. published twelve
books of music for the 24-key duett, all carefully noted in the
keys of C and G only (of necessity). The first six books were stamped at the
British Museum 28JY55, at the same time the tutor was accessioned. Then the next
four books were stamped 21DE59, with a new title page as well listing more music for duett.
The last two books were stamped 16AP62.
The earliest known advertisement was placed in The Scotsman (Edinburgh) on Wednesday, 20 December 1854,
offering (along with conventional English concertinas) "The Duet Concertina" in mahogany
and rosewood, together with its tutor (this was seven months before the tutor was
date-stamped at the British Museum). Fifteen months later a longer advertisement
by Wheatstone was appearing in the Daily News (London), with the earliest of these found so far
in the issue for Thursday, 13 March, 1856, offering the “novel” duett concertina
for sale, along with the “tutor and seven books of airs”.
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Instructions for Performing on Wheatstone's Patent Duett Concertina
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by Anonymous (C. Wheatstone & Co.)
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From page 2: "Many persons having formed opinions very prejudicial
to the Concertina, in consequence of mistaking for the original, an
imitation called the German Concertina, the public is informed
that, the so called instrument is totally different (with the exception
of the exterior) ... ."
Published by Wheatstone & Co., deposited at the
British Museum 28 July 1855. 21 pages. Trim size 6.5 inches by 10 inches.
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Posted 15 February 2003
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» read full document in pdf
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Earliest-Known Advertisement for the Duett Concertina (1854)
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by C. Wheatstone & Co.
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An early Edinburgh advertisement for the Duett system duet concertina, from late 1854.
The Scotsman (Edinburgh), Vol. 38 No. 3647, Wednesday, 20 December, 1854, page 1, column 3 (entire page).
“Concertinas at Fryer & Thomson’s, 7 and 11 South St Andrew Street.
THE DUET CONCERTINA.
In Mahogany (24 Keys), £1 11 6;
In Rosewood, Superior Finish (24 Do.), £2 2 0.
Instruction Books, 2s.”
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Posted 15 December 2004
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» read full document in pdf
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Early Advertisement for the Duett Concertina (1856)
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by C. Wheatstone & Co.
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An early London advertisement for the Duett system duet concertina.
Daily News (London), No. 3064, Thursday, 13 March, 1856, page 1, column 5 (entire page).
“The Patent Duet Concertina, £1 11s. 6d, and £2 2s., with
mahogany box. This novel instrument comprises two separate concertinas
connected to play duets or melodies with an accompaniment. It is also
admirably suited to the voice, and combines results not to be obtained
in any instrument of the description. Tutor and seven books of airs for
ditto, 2s. each. Inventors, WHEATSTONE & Co., patentees of the
concertina, as used by the most celebrated performers at the public
concerts, 20, Conduit-street, Regent-street.”
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Posted 15 February 2003
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» read full document in pdf
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Wheatstone Concertina Ledgers on the Web
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by the Horniman Museum
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Historical business records from C. Wheatstone & Co. are held at the
Library of the Horniman Museum in London. The earliest ledgers from the Wayne Archives
contain company sales records from the late 1830s to the 1860s (though with some
large gaps) along with production records from the 1860s to the 1890s and some
early records of wages and other payments. Later ledgers from the Dickinson Archives
contain production records from 1910 to 1974, again with some gaps. All known ledgers
have been digitized (some 2,300 pages in total) and made available free on this website for
private research.
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Posted 15 April 2003; Updated 15 June 2005
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» go to website
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Reprinted from the Concertina Library
http://www.concertina.com
© Copyright 2000– by Robert Gaskins
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Early Wheatstone “Duett”,
24-key precursor of the
later Maccann Duet System
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