This is a Wheatstone 56-Key Tenor-Treble with steel reeds. The serial number is 33863. It will need new pads and valves, and to be tuned to concert pitch (A=440hz).

This is a sightly later-period Wheatstone Aeola. As you can tell by the pictures, the aesthetics of the concertina are the only thing that really let it down- it seems like a very good playing instrument, but does have wear on the metalwork around the buttons and a very strange set of gold bellows. Regarding the bellows, we do know that Wheatstone did provide gold bellows on very rare occasions, but there’s no note in the Wheatstone ledgers about them for this instrument so it was most-likely done after purchase by somebody else. The bellows themselves are actually in pretty good condition and don’t require changing, which leaves the dilemma of what to do with the gold.

After restoration you’ll be left with a very good Wheatstone Aeola Tenor-Treble that’ll be a little more affordable than a top-period version.

We’re open to restoring this instrument ourselves, but would also sell it unrestored to somebody who wanted a project, or to have it restored by their favoured restorer. To find out more, give us a call or click the ‘Register Interest’ button.

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