This is a 30-Key Anglo in C/G by an unknown maker with steel reeds. It has been fitted with new pads and valves, and tuned to concert pitch.

Occasionally we come across concertinas like this with no indentifiable features of any of the Victorian makers, and they’re always a bit of a mystery- especially when the level of craftsmanship is high, as it is with this concertina. People tend to refer to them as ‘Shakespeares’, but seeing as Shakespeare did mark his instruments, we find it highly unlikely that any unmarked anglo is associated with him.

The build of the concertina internally is very Jeffries-like in terms of layout of reedpan, and the reems seem to be uniform. It has raised metal ends, and has a bright, more trebley tone. It plays nicely and it is pretty responsive, but it’s priced the way it is due to the fact that it is unidentifiable, and because it’s not at the level of a top Wheatstone or Jeffries.

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