This is a Wheatstone 12-Key Miniature English with steel reeds (serial number 31760). It has been fitted with new pads and valves, and tuned to concert pitch (A=440hz).

The notes on the left are G5, B5, D5. F6, F#6 and A6. The notes on the right are A5, C6, C#6 E6, G6, and B6.

It’s quite difficult to find a miniature concertina that plays well, without the need to constantly alternate bellows direction to get one clear note out. This is one of those very good quality miniature instruments that plays freely- it is very responsive with a loud, bright and sharp tone that you would expect from reeds of this size. It comes from Wheatstone’s very best period of manufacture, explaining in-part why it’s a great example of a miniature. Aesthetically the ends are in pretty tidy condition. The bellows were previously wrapped with stick-on dots and sellotape and whilst they’ve been cleaned up almost completely, you can still make out the shape of the dots in the light.

If it’s a vaguely-practical miniature that you’re looking for, then this may be the thing for you.

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