Concord, New Hampshire
Abraham Prescott & Son

Maple, rosewood, ivory, leather, fabric
ca.  1845
Length: 22.5 in; Width: 10.5 in
Wind Instruments – Free Reeds

This is a lap/tabletop melodeon sometimes referred to as a ‘rocking melodeon’ made by Abraham Prescott & Son of Concord, New Hampshire.  It consists of four octaves of round ivory buttons in two rows (29 & 20) arranged in the same order as a piano keyboard, on a dark wooden frame.  The double bellows are covered by fabric and leather. There are two panels of lighter wood with four sound holes on each panel. A switch next to the buttons at the left end allows the sound holes to be opened and closed. This instrument comes in the original locking wooden box case with a label on the inside of the lid. The label reads:

ABRAHAM PRESCOTT & SON, MANUFACTURER OF
SERAPHINES AND MELODIONS,
PREMIUM BASS AND DOUBLE BASS VIOLS,
Musical Instruments, Umbrellas, Repaired at short notice, and
WARRANTED.
Opposite the Columbian Hotel, Concord, N.H. 
Care should be taken in blowing the Melodion, to give a steady pressure, as a sudden motion may injure the tone of the instrument.
Morris, Silby, & Co. Printers, Concord, N.H. 

Abraham Prescott (July 5, 1789 – May 1, 1858), was an active instrument maker from 1809 whilst working as a farmer. He was possibly a pupil of Benjamin Willard 1805-1810. Prescott became established from 1820, with several assistants, making American ‘church basses’ and double basses (for which he is well-known), until he moved to Concord, New Hampshire in 1831, and sold his interest in bass making to the Dearborn brothers in 1845. From then on, he concentrated on making melodeons and other free-reed instruments. Abraham was joined by his son Abraham (II), and the business was renamed Prescott & Son. Abraham was a Baptist Church deacon, which well-placed him to supply his work to churches; they were used to accompany choirs where organs were not available.

For an outstanding demonstration on a melodeon by Darcy Kuronen check: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap1qE6NV8O0,