Technology of Concertinas

Directory

Resources in the Concertina Library for concertina technology.

gaskins-baffles Baffles for Maccann Duet Concertinas
by Robert Gaskins
Explains how baffles fitted internally can reduce the volume and/or change the tone of a Maccann Duet concertina, and how the sound of each end can be controlled independently so that the "balance" of an instrument can be altered. The motivation for adding baffles is most often to accompany a singer, to alter the sound-quality, or to allow a right-hand melody to be heard while playing left-hand chords. With 88 step-by-step photographs, and web sources (UK and US) for all materials and tools needed. 15 March 2002: Updated with photos of early Wheatstone wooden baffles (from Paul Hardy) and of Lachenal linen linings cut out individually around every button (from Joe Palof). Also added, a photo of a unique ten-sided Maccann Duet which, rather than quieting the left end with baffles, instead makes the right end louder by doubling all the reeds on the right side (now owned by Neil Wayne, photo from Stephen Chambers). 15 February 2003: Updated with photos and description of very early Pre-Maccann Wheatstone Double Duet No. 23 (1847-1848) which was equipped at the factory with conventional baffles on both sides plus a special baffle inside the reed pan on the left side--only--to balance the volume of the two ends.
Posted 15 February 2002; last updated 15 February 2003
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» read section 1: "baffles for maccann duet concertinas"
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williams-hayden-chat A Chat with Brian Hayden
by Wes Williams
Brian Hayden was interviewed in 2001 about his background, his invention of the Hayden System, his views on other duet systems, and his suggestions for learning and playing the duet concertina. Contains keyboard diagrams for nine duet systems: the Early Wheatstone Duett, Early Wheatstone Double, Maccann, Jeffries, Crane (Triumph), Linton, Rust ("Piano"), Late Wheatstone Chidley, and Hayden. (There is also a PDF version of the article.) Also published at concertina.net.
Posted 15 February 2003
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patent-collection Historic Concertina Patents
Directory
A portfolio of full copies of nine historic concertina patents. Includes the early Wheatstone English patents, Maccann's Duet patent, Jones's Anglo patent, the Crane Duet patent, Kaspar Wicki's patent for the Wicki-Hayden system, and Brian Hayden's much later patent for the same system. Includes: C. Wheatstone 1829; C. Wheatstone 1844; Wm. Wheatstone 1861; Maccann 1884; Jones 1885; Alsepti and Ballinger 1885; Butterfield 1896; Wicki 1896; Hayden 1986. None of these patents has any current force, all have either lapsed or been abandoned.
Posted 15 December 2004
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wayne-galpin The Wheatstone English Concertina
by Neil Wayne
Survey article covering the Wheatstone English Concertina, the only published source for much of Neil Wayne's path-breaking research. As published in The Galpin Society Journal 44 (1991), 117-149. (The online version does not yet perfectly match the printed version.)
Posted 01 January 2005
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horniman-site Horniman Museum
the Horniman Museum
The Horniman Museum in London is home to the largest collection of concertinas (more than 600 instruments) and much related archival research material. A photographic directory of concertinas in the collection is available on the site. The Wheatstone Concertina Ledgers at the Museum have been digitized and are online at a separate website.

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Posted 15 April 2003
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don-nichols-site DoN. Nichols’s Home Page
by DoN Nichols
Personal webpages about many concertina-related topics, but mostly about English concertinas, with an extensive commentary on their internal construction (illustrated with many photographs and diagrams of parts), and with some detailed information about tuning and maintenance. There are keyboard diagrams for English and for some Duet concertina systems, and a number of informative contributed articles on concertina history and miscellany.

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Posted 01 April 2003
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hayden-fingering-systems Fingering Systems for Duet Concertina
by Brian Hayden
Overview of all the fingering systems for duet concertina which turned up in Hayden's review of prior art while preparing his own patent application. As published in Concertina Magazine (Australia) 16 (1986): 19-23; 17 (1987): 7-9; 18 (1987): 11-15; 19 (1987): 6-10.
Posted 15 November 2001
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chidley-duet-system The 'Duet' System, discussed by K. V. Chidley
by Kenneth V. Chidley
Review of the history of the duet concertina leading up to Chidley's own post-war "Chidley System". As published in World Accordion Review 6:3 (December 1950): 31-32. Also a differing version as reprinted with notes by Neil Wayne as K. V. Chidley, "The Duet Concertina--Its History and the Evolution of its Keyboard," Free Reed: The Concertina Newsletter 17 (Jan/Feb 1974): 15-17.
Posted 15 November 2001
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wheatstone-fingering-systems Fingering Systems of the “Wheatstone” Concertina
by C. Wheatstone & Co.
A leaflet showing the four concertina systems made by Wheatstone in the late 1950s: English, Anglo, Chidley duet, and Crane/Triumph duet. As was Wheatstone’s invariable practise, the Chidley system is called simply the “Wheatstone Duet” (as the Maccann system had also been styled previously), and there is no mention of the fact that the keyboard layout has been changed—apart from the evidence of the keyboard diagram. The printing is apparently before 1956, but this copy was issued with overstamping dating from at least 1959. Collected by Chris Algar.
Posted 15 February 2003
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gaskins-wicki-system The Wicki System—an 1896 Precursor of the Hayden System
by Robert Gaskins
The concertina keyboard system known today as the "Hayden" system, which was independently discovered by Brian Hayden and patented by him in 1986, had also been discovered and patented 90 years earlier by a Swiss inventor named Kaspar Wicki. Wicki's 1896 Swiss patent (CH13329) is clear and unambiguous, including a keyboard diagram labeled in standard musical notation.
Posted 01 March 2004
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gaskins-which-duet Which Duet Concertina—Hayden or Maccann?
by Robert Gaskins
A comparative review of two concertinas: a Stagi Hayden Duet concertina (c. 2003), and a Lachenal Maccann Duet concertina (c. 1900). Each instrument has 46 keys, and each cost £500 ($800) ready to play. On almost every measure, the antique Lachenal Maccann Duet turned out to be preferable to the modern Stagi Hayden Duet—by a considerable margin. The advantages frequently mentioned as belonging to the Hayden system (uniformity of fingering in all key signatures, automatic transposition) turned out to be significantly compromised by the restricted size of the Stagi. If you want to play a duet concertina, at present you will probably do best to buy a Maccann Duet.
Posted 01 March 2004
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Historic Concertina Makers:

wheatstone-homepage C. Wheatstone & Co.
Directory
Concertina Library directory of all information on this website about C. Wheatstone & Co.
Posted 01 January 2005
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lachenal-homepage Lachenal & Co.
Directory
Concertina Library directory of all information on this website about Lachenal & Co.
Posted 01 January 2005
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jeffries-homepage C. Jeffries, Maker
Directory
Concertina Library directory of all information on this website about C. Jeffries Maker and Jeffries Brothers.
Posted 01 January 2005
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jones-homepage George Jones & Sons
Directory
Concertina Library directory of all information on this website about George Jones & Sons.
Posted 01 January 2005
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crabb-homepage H. Crabb and Son
Directory
Concertina Library directory of all information on this website about H. Crabb and Son.
Posted 01 January 2005
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Photographs of Concertinas:

gaskins-jeffries-maccann-no-6-pics Photographs of Jeffries Maccann Duet Concertina, serial No. 6
by Robert Gaskins
Photographic documentation of a Jeffries Maccann Duet, serial No. 6, 57 keys, c. 1915. Marked on the right with an oval engraved C. Jeffries Maker, 23 Praed St. Raised metal ends, some construction details in common with Jeffries anglos such as linear reed chambers. Its matching manuscript chords tutor is also reproduced on this website. 54 photographs.
Posted 15 February 2003
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gaskins-double-no-23-pics Photographs and Description of Wheatstone Double duet concertina, serial No. 23
by Robert Gaskins
Photographic documentation of very early Double duet (1847-1848). This No. 23 has only 45 keys, smaller than the 57-key size which is shown in the tutor or the 67-key size exemplified by Danny Chapman's No. 14. It contains an original additional baffle to reduce the volume of the bass side. 34 photographs.
Posted 15 February 2003
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gaskins-duett-no-64-pics Photographs of Wheatstone Duett duet concertina, serial No. 64
by Robert Gaskins
Photographic documentation of an excellently-preserved example of the Early Wheatstone Duett instruments from the 1850s, forerunners of the later Maccann Duet. 46 photographs.
Posted 15 February 2003
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Repairing and refurbishing of vintage concertinas:

button-box-site The Button Box
by Richard Morse
The Button Box is a comprehensive dealer, and a leading source in the USA for new concertinas (especially its own R. Morse “Albion” English and “Céilí” Anglo) and vintage instruments, plus books, CDs, videos, and accessories. Services include rentals, purchases, consignments, and appraisals. The Button Box workshop is widely trusted to handle the restoration and repair of fine old concertinas. Organizers of the annual Northeast Squeeze-In Festival.

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Posted 01 April 2003
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concertina-connection-site Concertina Connection
by Wim Wakker
With the goal of reintroducing the English concertina into classical music, this site features articles on playing skills (beginner to advanced) with music scores, sound files, and photographs. The site offers new Geuns-Wakker concertinas and restored vintage instruments, extensive restoration services and replacement parts, and re-published Victorian and contemporary sheet music. There are a number of MP3 sound files of older Wheatstone and Lachenal concertinas.

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Posted 15 November 2001
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Jeffries Right Hand Reed Pan
Jeffries 57-key Maccann
No. 6, right reed pan with
linear reed chambers