This is a Lachenal Paragon 48-Key Treble with steel reeds (serial number 15824). It has been fitted with pads and valves in recent years, and has been tuned to concert pitch (A=440hz).

This is an interesting concertina, due to the fact that it has been altered at some point in its existence. We’d usually know what to expect from an early Lachenal Paragon with the central screw at the top of each end- something that wasn’t particularly air efficient and a bit slower as a result. Somebody has given this concertina a new lease of life at some point by fitting 6-fold bellows and chambering the reed pans. The result is a very fast and responsive Lachenal Paragon that’s a lot more versatile than other examples of the model. The reeds do produce a slightly different tone than the standard later-period Paragons, but tone is very difficult to describe using words! It excels a little more in the mid frequencies, if that makes any sense to anybody!

A really nice box, and a great upgrade from a tutor model instrument.

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