Founded in November 2001, the International Concertina Association Document Archive is continuously being expanded and updated with concertina related material. Rather than form a collection of items, the philosophy of the Archive is to collect scans of documents and photographs, and make these available as PDF format files. Many of these files have been processed to contain text representations of the originals, rather than pure images, which allows easier searching of contents. Donations of copies of items are always very welcome.
The Archive is still undergoing improvement, and it is planned to produce a comprehensive index of all contents in the future.
Access to the Archive is available to all members of the ICA, and items may be requested as paper copy or CD-ROM.
The Archive is divided into five areas, with two areas containing major collections of individual members. Click on any of the links below to go to that section of this page.
The Archivist:
Wes Williams (archive@concertina.org)
This archive contains documents relating to the Association.
The ICA was founded about June 1952. The Association had grown out of "The New British Concertina Movement" promoted by the magazine "World Accordion Review", which contained a section on the Concertina edited by Kenneth Chidley, a director of the firm of Wheatstone. Desmond Hart, the editor of the magazine, was the prime mover in the formation of the ICA, and served as its "Presiding Genius" until 1955, becoming the first Honourary Member of the Association.
The first issue of the ICA Newsletter was a single sheet "News-Sheet" dated August 1952 which mainly reported good wishes from supporters. It was sent from 3 Ives St., Chelsea; Wheatstone's manufacturing premises at the time. It also included an application for membership, a circular about the ICA, and a letter and a "Folk Dance" Catalogue from Wheatstone publicising their Concertinas.
Newsletter No. 2 was published in October 1952. Enclosed with it was a report of the Inaugural Meeting of the I.C.A. which took place on Saturday 27th September 1952, with 50 members present. The association was then 3 months old and had 134 members. Mr. L. J. Silvester was the General Secretary.
The ICA became more organised from 1955, with the election of Officers, including our longtime President, Father Kenneth Loveless M.B.E. (1911-1995), who retired in 1994 and was replaced by Alistair Anderson, who played a major part in the revival of the instrument from the late 1960s. Also in 1955, Henry "Harry" Crabb, the well known concertina maker and teacher, became Treasurer for the ICA, and in 2003 we were pleased to elect his son Geoffrey, with his wealth of knowledge of the instrument and its players, as an Honourary Member.
Many more members of the Association, past and present, are worthy of mention. This section of the Archive, and the Newsletter section, attempts to locate, preserve and maintain this information for the future. A parallel ICA project for a Sound Archive, still in formation, attempts to locate and preserve performances by many of these players.
| HA001 : 1980 HA002 : 1981 HA003 : 1982 HA004 : 1983 HA005 : 1984 HA006 : 1985 HA007 : 1986 HA008 : 1987 HA009 : 1988 HA010 : 1989 HA011 : 1990 HA012 : 1991-February HA013 : 1991-October HA014 : 1993 |
 An early ICA meeting in London (1953 or '55). Photo courtesy Geoffrey Crabb. |
ConstitutionHA015 : October 1991 PublicityHA016 : Flyer circa 1984 FestivalsHA020 : 1975 Festival, 26th April, Music Pieces DocumentsHA019 : The ICA Directory, 1957. |
 Former President Father Kenneth Loveless. Photo courtesy Dave Turner. |
This archive contains newsletters of the Association.
[FB] Frank Butler, 1956, 1959 - 1967
[LJ] Len Jones, 1957 - 1958
[RW] Ruth Ware, 1968 - 1976
[EP] Elizabeth Palley, 1976 - 1977
[JH] Jim Harvey, ICA Secretary (2 issues in 1977)
[HR] Howard Rosenblum, 1977 - 1984, 1990 - 1991
[CT] Colin Turner, 1984 -1986
[AD] Alan Dyer, 1986 - 1990
[CO] Charlotte Oliver, 1991 - 1994
[GS] Gill Noppen-Spacie, 1994 to the present date
Over the last 50 years, the ICA has published almost 430 Newsletters. Earlier issues consisted mainly of one or two sparsely typed foolscap size sheets, gradually growing into the current issues of over 40 A5 pages plus a Music Supplement.
The collection is almost complete from 1967. Newsletters from No 400 upwards are not included in this collection, and are available to ICA Members as originals, while stocks last. ICA Members are able to access a large proportion of the collection in the Members Only area of this site. Why not join now and gain access to this area and all the other benefits of membership?
ICA Newsletters over 35 years old from the collection are available here in PDF format. All Newsletters are copyright the ICA ©2004 and may not be reproduced without permission. Limited quoting of material is permitted if accompanied by acknowledgment of source.
Newsletter 21, February 1957 (8 pages) [LJ] (59K bytes)
Newsletter 22, April 1957 (6 pages) [LJ] (62K bytes)
Newsletter 136, October 1966 (4 pages) [FB] (25K bytes)
Newsletter 137, November 1966 (4 pages) [FB] (24K bytes)
Newsletter 140, February 1967 (4 pages) [FB] (25K bytes)
Newsletter 141, March 1967 (4 pages) [FB] (28K bytes)
Newsletter 144, June 1967 (10 pages) [FB] (53K bytes)
Newsletter 146, August 1967 (4 pages) [FB] (45K bytes)
Newsletter 147, October 1967 (2 pages) [FB] (16K bytes)
Newsletter 148, November 1967 (4 pages) [FB] (26K bytes)
Newsletter 149, December 1967 (4 pages) [FB] (26K bytes)
Newsletter 150, January 1968 (5 pages) [FB] (37K bytes)
Newsletter 151, February 1968 (4 pages) [FB] (31K bytes)
Newsletter 152, March 1968 (pages 1,2,6 only) [FB] (22K bytes)
Newsletter 153, April 1968 (7 pages) [FB] (38K bytes)
Newsletter 154, May 1968 (6 pages) [FB] (47K bytes)
Newsletter 155, June 1968 (6 pages) [FB] (35K bytes)
Newsletter 158, September 1968 (4 pages) [FB] (49K bytes)
Newsletter 159, October 1968 (4 pages) [FB] (24K bytes)
Newsletter 160, November 1968 (5 pages) [FB] (27K bytes)
Newsletter 161, December 1968 (10 pages) [FB] (42K bytes)
Newsletter 162, January 1969 (6 pages) [FB] (31K bytes)
Newsletter 163, February 1969 (6 pages)[RW](33K bytes)
Newsletter 164, March 1969 (6 pages)[RW] (23K bytes)
Newsletter 165, April 1969 (6 pages)[RW](22K bytes)
Newsletter 166, May 1969 (6 pages)[RW](26K bytes)
Newsletter 167, June 1969 (7 pages)[RW](23K bytes)
Newsletter 168, July 1969 (4 pages)[RW](17K bytes)
Newsletter 169, August 1969 + Festival Entry Details (4+6
pages)[RW](34K bytes)
Newsletter 170, September 1969 (4 pages)[RW](19K bytes)
Newsletter 171, October 1969 (4 pages)[RW](20K bytes)
Newsletter 172, November 1969 (6 pages)[RW](22K bytes)
| Newsletter 174, January 1970 (4 pages)[RW] Newsletter 175, February 1970 (5 pages)[RW] Newsletter 176, March 1970 (4 pages, NB 2 from another Newsletter?)[RW] Newsletter 178 May 1970 [RW] Newsletter 179 June 1970 [RW] Newsletter 192, October 1971 [RW] Newsletter 200, July/August 1972 [RW] Newsletter 219, June 1974 (4 pages, A5)[RW] Newsletter 224, January 1975 (4 pages, A5)[RW] Newsletter 236, March 1976 (4 pages, A5)[EP] Newsletter 246, March 1977 (3 pages, A4)[HR] Newsletter 254, January 1978 (3 pages) [HR] Newsletter 263, January 1979 [HR] Newsletter 272, January 1980 [HR] Newsletter 282, January 1981 [HR] Newsletter 292, January 1982 [HR] Newsletter 302, January 1983 [HR] Newsletter 312, January 1984 [HR] Newsletter 323, January 1985 [CT] Newsletter 333, January 1986 [CT] Newsletter 342, January 1987 [AD] Newsletter 353, January 1988 [AD] Newsletter 361, January 1989 [AD] Newsletter 366, January? 1990 [AD] Newsletter 374, January 1991 [HR] Newsletter 383, January/February 1992 [CO] Newsletter 389, January/February 1993 [CO] |
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This archive contains documents generally relating to the Concertina.
GA001 : Wheatstone - Price List and Music List from 1848
GA027 : Wheatstone - Handbook from the 1950s
Documents and ArticlesGA002 : Blake,Hugh - The Blake System |
 John Nixon in 1935. |
GA007 : 1829, Charles Wheatstone, Wind Musical Instruments, No. 5803
GA008 : 1829, Cyril Demian, German Patent for Accordion
GA009 : 1844, Charles Wheatstone, Concertinas and other Musical Instruments,No.10041
GA010 : 1861, William Wheatstone,Improvements in Concertinas, No. 2289
GA011 : 1861, Jewel,Improvements in Concertinas,No.2152
GA012 : 1862, Rust,Concertinas &c.,No.1976
GA013 : 1881, Berry, Improvements in Concertinas and Accordions,No.3568.
GA014 : 1884, John Hill Maccann, Improvements in Concertinas, No. 4752
GA015 : 1884, George Jones,Improvements in Anglo-German Concertinas,No.9314
GA016 : 1885, Alsepti and Ballinger, Improvements in Concertinas,No.8290
GA017 : 1896, Butterworth, Improvements in English Concertinas,No.21730
GA018 : 1902, Reed-Hanson,Improvements in Concertinas,No.26911
GA019 : 1922, Pitt,Improved Concertina,208274
See also in The Reuben Shaw Archive:
Busson's Patent ; No. 2630 of 1853
William Wheatstone's Patent ; No. 4994 of 1824
GA040 : Butler,F E - Handbook and Tutor for the English Concertina
GA041 : Day,Alan - Audio CD Tutor for the 20 Button Anglo Concertina
GA036 : Jeffries,T ? - Maccann Duet Manuscript
GA039 : Jones,G - Tutor for the Anglo Concertina
GA035 : Maccann,J H - Instructions for the Duet English Concertina 1885
GA038 : Rutterford,E - Tutor for the Duet Concertina
GA037 : Warren,J - Instructions for the Double Concertina 1855
GA034 : Wheatstone - Instructions for Performing on the Patent Duett 1855
The Concertina Newsletter,edited by Neil Wayne. No.1 - 24, 1971 - 1976.
Concertina and Squeezebox, No.1 to 32, 1983 -1995, published in the USA.
The Concertina Magazine, edited by Richard Evans, published in Australia in the 1980s.
The Free Reed Journal, edited by Alan Atlas; Volume 1 - 4 ,2000 - 2003.
The archive is particularly interested in obtaining copies of Accordion World/World Accordion Review of the 1950s.
Chris Algar, of Tunstall, Stoke on Trent, has been associated with Concertinas for a long time, both as a supporter of the instrument and also trading as "Barleycorn Concertinas".
In July 2002, he made his collection of Concertina related documents available for scanning onto computer. The scans were made by ICA member Robert Gaskins. Through the kindness of Messrs. Algar and Gaskins, copies of the scans were donated to the ICA in July 2002.
Some of the items listed here may be found at the Concertina Library web site (formerly the Maccann Duet web site).
CA001 : Models of Crabb Concertinas
CA002 : Lachenal Concertina Types
CA003 : Salvation Army Triumph Duet Brochure
CA004 : Wheatstone Brochure
CA005 : Wheatstone Calendar for 1923
CA006 : Wheatstone Case Instructions
CA007 : Wheatstone Cases - Accessories
CA008 : Wheatstone Duet Layouts 56 and 62 keys
CA009 : Wheatstone Fingering Systems
CA010 : Wheatstone Folk Dancing Brochure
CA011 : Wheatstone MayFair Model Advertising
CA012 : Wheatstone MayFair Model Advertising
CA013 : Wheatstone Miniature Models Advertising
CA014 : Wheatstone 'The Concertina' Brochure 1951
CA015 : British Library on Lachenal Addresses
CA016 : Crabb; Appraisal of Work 1984
CA017 : Crabb; Repairs 1976
CA018 : Dean; Repairs 1932
CA019 : Lachenal; Billhead 1924
CA020 : True Fingering of the Jeffries Concertina
CA021 : Vickers; Note Nov 1923
CA022 : Vickers; Notes Jan 1948
CA023 : Wheatstone; Cases and Accessories 1953
CA024 : Wheatstone; Credit Note 1960
CA025 : Wheatstone; Envelope 1929
CA026 : Wheatstone; Invoice 1958
CA027 : Wheatstone; Note Jul. 1924
CA028 : Wheatstone; Note June 1926
CA029 : Wheatstone; Note Sept. 1926
CA030 : Wheatstone; Remittance Advice 1926
CA031 : Wheatstone; Repair Capacity 1945-46
Newspaper CuttingsCA032 : Crabbs Revival 1970 PerformersCA035 : UK Survey (French) |
 Herbert Green |
CA041 : Hayden
CA042 : Lachenal; All Models 01
CA043 : Lachenal; All Models 02
CA044 : Lachenal; All Models 03
CA045 : Lark in the Morning
CA046 : Vickers
CA047 : Wheatstone; All Models, Late 01
CA048 : Wheatstone; All Models, Late 02
CA049 : Wheatstone; All Models, Late 03
CA050 : Wheatstone; All Models, Late 04
CA051 : Wheatstone; Duet Models, 01
CA052 : Wheatstone; Duet Models, 02
CA053 : Wheatstone; Duet Models, 03
CA054 : Wheatstone; Duet Models, 04
CA055 : Wheatstone; Duet Models, 05
CA056 : Wheatstone; Duet Models, 06
CA057 : Wheatstone; English Models, 01
CA058 : Wheatstone; English Models, 02
CA059 : Wheatstone; English Models, 03
CA060 : Wheatstone; English Models, 04
CA061 : Wheatstone; English Models, 05
CA062 : Wheatstone; English Models, 06
CA063 : Wheatstone; English Models, 07
CA064 : Wheatstone; English Models, 08
CA065 : Wheatstone; English Models, 09
CA066 : Wheatstone; English Models, 10
CA067 : Wheatstone; English Models, 11
CA068 : Wheatstone; English Models, Late
CA069 : Wheatstone; Music 1919
CA070 : Wheatstone; Music 1932
CA071 : Chettle; 1880
CA072 : Comptons Exchange; 1949
CA073 : Crabb; No.8996, 1926
CA074 : Crabb; repair to Lachenal No.57211, 1979
CA075 : Dickinson; for parts, 1977
CA076 : Dipper; for repair to Wheatstone No.24449, 1978
CA077 : Hunter; duet lessons, 1915
CA078 : Jeffries; 1913
CA079 : Lachenal; 1918
CA080 : Lachenal; No.199054, 1929
CA081 : Lachenal; No.56329, 1926
CA082 : Lachenal; No.60176, 1929
CA083 : Lachenal; English Model, 1917
CA084 : Salvation Army; 1971
CA085 : Wheatstone; No.27170, 1935
CA086 : Wheatstone; No.27578, 1917
CA087 : Wheatstone; No.28789, 1922
The items shown on this index were presented to the International Concertina Association in July 2002 by Reuben Shaw.
Reuben was a fine player of both Duet and English systems, and was interested in Concertinas for many years, as these items show.
Reuben Shaw died on 15 December 2005.
Advertising materialRS001 : Programme for a Concertina Band Contest, Manchester, 1922 CorrespondenceRS004 : Letter from World Accordion Review Magazine giving address for Henry Stanley Documents and articlesRS010 : Article on Reuben Shaw from Concertina and Squeezebox Newspaper cuttingsRS014 : Obituary for Percy Honri PatentsRS016 : Busson's Patent; No. 2630 of 1853 |
 Reuben Shaw |