This is a Lachenal Accordeaphone 40-Key Treble with steel reeds. It is in fully working order, but would possibly benefit from some restoration.

For better or worse, you really won’t see many of these anywhere. In fact, we believe that no more than 10 were ever made, and the majority of those are unaccounted for currently. The Accordeaphone was Lachenal’s answer to the rising popularity of the Accordion. The company determined that people wanted bigger instruments that were colourful, pearloid, and had the wetter tone of multiple reeds for one note tuned slightly flatter/sharper of each other. Unfortunately, setting the factory up to make these Accordeaphones was incredibly expensive, and ultimately bankrupted Lachenal very quickly.

The instrument itself does have a tone very similar to an accordion, and the button layout is exactly the same as a standard treble English concertina. All of the notes work properly, with a couple of reeds for each note. As you can see, some of the original buttons have been replaced, and there are a few patches of wear on the ends.

This is one of the rarest concertinas that exist, and is even rarer for the fact that it’s a fully-functioning, working musical instrument. If you have a collection then this is essential!

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