This is a ‘Boyd’ Lachenal 48-Key Treble with steel reeds. It has been fitted with new pads, valves, bellows and straps, and been tuned to concert pitch (A=440hz).

This concertina has been through fairly extensive restoration which has turned it from an instrument that felt weak and lacking in potential to one hell of a player. It is an incredibly responsive player, and is typical of. the model in one sense- it has a quick action with a lower button height which helps it feel even faster. However, it does lack the overt volume and brightness of most Lachenal New Models with metal ends (especially Boyds)- it’s a much more balanced concertina, which would appeal to more people than a standard Boyd would.

For those who don’t know, Boyd was a musical instrument dealer in the North East of England, who sold so many concertinas that he has his own specific model made by both Wheatstone- a 48/56 Key with raised metal ends, with his own surname in the metalwork, made to his own specifications and by the best makers from both companies that he would choose. They’re known for being some of the fastest-playing concertinas made in that era, and especially where the Lachenal concertinas were concerned, they’re much higher quality than the standard New Model instrument (which is why the price is so much higher).

The metalwork is a little rough, but if that’s irrelevant to you, then this is a cracker of a concertina.

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