Rare concertina found in a Kingston cellar set to squeeze out the bids

Rare concertina found in a Kingston cellar set to squeeze out the bids

Unearthed during a home visit, deep in the cellar and amongst boxes of heirlooms, the wonderfully rare concertina comes to auction on March 31st and is expected to reach between £500 – £1000. 

Chris Kirkham commented, ‘Its a marvellous and rare instrument manufactured by the pre – eminent Wheatstone company, being a 48 button instrument it will appeal to Irish folk musicians and it’s so pleasing that it will be squeezed again, after years hidden away!’.

The Wheatstone concertina , by virtue of its fully chromatic and eminently playable ‘English’ fingering system, rapidly achieved acclaim as a serious solo and ensemble instrument , not only becoming highly popular amongst musical amateurs, but attracting numerous virtuoso performers and composers.

Lord Balfour (British Prime Minister 1902 – 1905) was in fact an ardent concertina player, and the eminent explorers Shackleton and Livingstone both acquired Wheatstone concertina.

The hexagonal squeezebox was invented, patented and manufactured by Sir Charles Wheatstone, Professor of Experimental Philosophy at Kings College. 

Wheatstone is remembered chiefly for his contributions to electrical engineering, telegraphy, optics, acoustics and cryptography but his Oxford Dictionary of National Biography also credits him with ‘one of the few original British musical instrument designs’. Concertina manufacture became the staple of the family business at 20 Conduit Street W1, which he ran with his brother William from 1823. The Wheatstone brand survives to tis day, manufactured from a workshop in Stowmarket, Suffolk.

For all valuation enquiries call Chris Kirkham 07469353077 ckirkham@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk valuations 7 days per week by appointment, Wednesday and Friday 10-4pm Hansons Richmond , 6 Parkleys Parade, Upper Ham Road, TW105LF 

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