Dick, some comments:
- "what is of paramount importance[as regards acoustics on a guitar] is the wood used for the top,on this basis I put forward the idea that the wood used inside a concertina and on the end plates , is more important than the steel that is used for the reeds"

RE:I´m afraid no. The squeezeboxes shall not be compared to string instruments in any respect! a)the soundsource reed vs string works entirely differently (caterpillar mentioned that above) b) there is NO resonator in squeezeboxes as in most string instruments

- "the design of the reed chambers[radial or straight] and the english construction is in my opinion going to have an effect on the sound as will the tapered reed chambers"

RE: As said, *maybe* some *slight* difference but NOT intentional!

- "why go to the extra work of tapered reed chambers, and radial design if it does not affect the sound"

RE: As said, the tapered reed chambers are specifically intended to improve sound onset while keeping the chambers as small (height) as can be to allow full vibration amplitude by the reed tongue
There is NO evidence that the radial design( as introduced by Wheatstones it seems) was meant for anything else than to make the "english" construction as compct as possible in a shape imitating a circle and possibly for using the rotary reed pan cutting machinery in combination with dove-tailed reed works. In combination a fairly neat technical(processing) outfit but hardly of any (or just minor) importance for the acoustics of the instruments

- "if wood is of no importance why not make concertinas using cheaper plywood?simple, because plywood deadens the sound"

RE: This has been done and works pretty well! I recall Neville Crabb said for instance they have used plywood for "instruments going to tropical climate". Late Wheatstones at least have laminated box frames. No evidence of negative effects on sound! There is much superstition around with materials. I made new ends for one instrument out of Masonite once and the instrument became one of the nicest sounding ones I have ever come across just by accident...