The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-049.



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Item Type: Concertina

Summary Labels and Serial Numbers End Frets Fingering System Straps and Holding Devices Fret Baffle Action Board Reeds and Reed Pans Bellows Case and Other

Summary

Full Description: C Wheatstone No 5506 48-Key English system, No 5506, with the "By HER Majesty's" label, and exhibiting fine frets, now machine-cut.The reeds are in standard round-ended brass reed-frames, and there is a large annular pan-label bearing Wheatstone & Co's address. Later West Street modifications include: Black leather straps, "West Street" label, sub-fret gauze baffles, later steel reed-tongues, Red leatherette inner bellows hinges, number now on printed inset paper oval in LH cartouche, mainly new brown leather valve flaps, and red-leather pallets to most reeds.

Concertina Summary: C Wheatstone No 5506 48-Key English system, No 5506, with the "By HER Majesty's" label, and exhibiting fine frets, now machine-cut.The reeds are in standard round-ended brass reed-frames, and there is a large annular pan-label bearing Wheatstone & Co's address. Later West Street modifications.

Owner or Collection: Concertina Museum, Belper

Maker: C Wheatstone

Maker Links: Concertina, Charles Wheatstone No 5506 http://www.concertina.com/wheatstone/index.htm

Wheatstone Ledgers Link: www.horniman.info/WNCMARC/C1049/PAGES/C5P0070S.HTM Hired out to Mrs Byrne on 5th June 1854

Region of Manufacture: London

Main Maker's Label Wording: A later Wheatstone label, " C Wheatstone & Co, Inventors, Patentees and Manufacturers, 15 West Street, Charing X Rd, London W.C."

System Type: 48-Key Treble English system

Source Catalogue No: The Concertina Museum Collection Ref:C-049.






Maker Details

Wheatstone & Co. were founded in 1824, and survived until 1974. In 1975 the company was refounded by Steve Dickinson.

C. Wheatstone & Co was established in London, England by Charles Wheatstone (uncle to Sir Charles and William Dolman Wheatstone) at the beginning of the 19th Century. They moved to 20 Conduit Street, London, England in 1824. After the death of William in 1862, the firm was taken over by Edward Chidley, a distant relation. Edward Chidley died in 1899, and the firm was then controlled by his sons Edward and Percy. In 1905 the firm moved to 15 West Street.

After the death of the younger Edward Chidley in 1943, part of the firm was sold to Besson & Co., who were taken over by Boosey & Hawkes in 1948. In 1958 they moved to Duncan Terrace, Islington, North London. In 1961 the Duncan Terrace property was sold, and the remains of Wheatstone & Co. were moved to the Boosey & Hawkes factory in Edgware, Middlesex. The company ceased trading on the death of its last employee in 1974.

The remains of the company were purchased by Steve Dickinson in 1975.


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The Concertina Museum Collection

Created August 2009 by Neil Wayne
Last Modified 07 February 2012 by Neil Wayne, Chris Flint, Wes Williams

This page created Tuesday 14 February 2012.