Item Type: A 31plus-2-Key Flutina or Accordéon Diatonique

Summary

Full Description: A 31-plus-2-Key "Flutina" or "Accordéon Diatonique".
A later, more developed model in two-row form, with two rows (15 and 16, either side of hand-bar). There is a pair of pivoted levers atop the hand-bar, operating a pair of rise-and-fall pearl pallets on curliqued brass levers, leading to drone chordal reed-plates. The finely carved pearl pallets have a perforated floral pattern, and the fancy keys are in a carved bird profile, with some coloured pearl inset circles.
The scalloped bellows frames, which have chamfered corners, are lavishly inlaid with brass filigree and inset pearl panels.The large brass left-hand air valve lever and pallet are within a raised scalloped wooden rim, together with two smaller brass pallets operated by jointed brass levers and buttons, which operate drone reeds within the LH end.
The instrument measures 142 x 424mm, has 5-fold bellows with floral patterned papers, and the bellows frames are inlaid and of a sloping profile.
The instrument bears a wealth of fine ‘Keith, Prowse & Co, 48 Cheapside, London’ labels, on bellows in gilt on blue paper, and a superb label within the original rosewood veneered case. Internal labels include the inked stamp of ‘Thos R Willis, Importer and manufacturer, London’. The internal serial number is 3623, next to an inked date of 1877 (struck through in ink). Purchased at Sworders Auctions, Sudbury, Oct 2010.

Source Catalogue No: The Concertina Museum: C15.3.2-013