Concertina

Prototype concertina, with experimental reed chambers, English system. Flat, solid rosewood ends, in elongated hexagonal shape, 7.31x10.94in/186x279mm; simple frets, left-hand with pine backing, right-hand backing absent. 43 ivory buttons with black accidentals: 22 left-hand, 21 right-hand (all 21 absent). Nickel reed tongues set in pairs on brass reed beds, mounted on inner reed chambers. 4-fold green leather bellows with deep bellows frame and markedly chamfered form, no papers added (as with other prototypes). Left-hand strap green leather with plated screw. Right-hand strap absent. Label absent, though right-hand fretwork has label hole. No serial number. Wheatstone was experimenting with reed chambers of 'pipes' of harmonically-tuned sizes to enhance tone and response.