Guess what?! I have an accordion :-)

[Onemoreproject]

... and I thought I'd post a photo in the hope of finding out more about it.

I don't care if it's worth next to nothing ... I found it in a 'junk" store over ten years ago and it spoke to me as a project.
(It was all put together ... not like it is in the photo.)

I guess I'd like to find out it's age, and maybe from there I can find out how to reinstate a panel that has been shockingly badly "repaired". (Slatted thing top right of photo.)

As for the "resto":
Part one is sticking wayward reed units back on, and flattening out any curled up leather flaps ... if possible.
Part two will be working out why a lone sprung lever is not meeting up with the relevant arm.
Part three will be working on the case, and that basically means dealing with that godawful panel, because the rest is looking good.

I've done this sort of "totally ignorant yet resourceful" repair on an alto sax, a treadle sewing machine, and some.old school woodworking tools ... and then learned to use them to make things (music, trousers and furniture resto respectively :-D )

If all goes well with the accordion I may well be banished to the shed for the racket that follows ........

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

That's a gorgeous instrument! It's an early one too - could have been made anywhere between 1910 and 1930, but I can't give you a more precise date than that. There's an accordion museum in Switzerland (https://www.akkordeon-museum.ch) that features a lot of those early wood-veneered boxes, so I'd recommend having a dig around on there.
As for repair and restoration, it's a complicated task and you're not likely to get everything right your first time around, but this seems to be a decent box to refurbish, if it's all structurally sound, and you seem like the sort of person who'd be able to do it. There are a few basic points to make - ensure that screws and pins go back in the same holes, never use WD40, etc etc, but there is plenty of more specific information too. Accordion Revival is a great website for all this kind of thing! I have no idea what that panel is for though, or how it would fit into the instrument. Some more photos from different angles would help : )

 

[Onemoreproject]

That's a gorgeous instrument! It's an early one too - could have been made anywhere between 1910 and 1930, but I can't give you a more precise date than that. There's an accordion museum in Switzerland (https://www.akkordeon-museum.ch) that features a lot of those early wood-veneered boxes, so I'd recommend having a dig around on there.
As for repair and restoration, it's a complicated task and you're not likely to get everything right your first time around, but this seems to be a decent box to refurbish, if it's all structurally sound, and you seem like the sort of person who'd be able to do it. There are a few basic points to make - ensure that screws and pins go back in the same holes, never use WD40, etc etc, but there is plenty of more specific information too. Accordion Revival is a great website for all this kind of thing! I have no idea what that panel is for though, or how it would fit into the instrument. Some more photos from different angles would help : )

Hey SBOD! Thank you so much
What a great start ... much appreciated
You reminded me ... when I did the sax (this is forty years ago now but I'll never forget it) I laid a single bed sheet on the floor and dismantled the whole thing "in an orderly manner". 250 pieces....... put it back together and there was a lone leaf spring sitting there on the floor
Turns out it played just fine without it
I don't think this accordion will be so forgiving
PS
Yes, I'm on a classic VW forum where photos are boss, so I should have known better ... but it was a case of "seize the day" and get things moving.
Slightly more "assembled" photos coming shortly

 

[Onemoreproject]

So this photo shows the slatted panel in all it's glory ... and the card propped up also looks to be an "aftermarket cover up job" because when fitted, half of it covered a fair bit of the inlay work

 

[Tom]

Welcome One More! That’s a beautiful accordion and I wish you well with the restoration. Absolute accordion history.

 

[Onemoreproject]

Welcome One More! That’s a beautiful accordion and I wish you well with the restoration. Absolute accordion history.

Thanks Tom!

Any hints on what the nasty slatted piece replaced would be welcome.

I'm thinking it might have been pierced metal?

I might end up putting my own twist on it ... like the word "Accordion" is as many languages as I can find, on a music stave

 

[Tom]

Thanks Tom!

Any hints on what the nasty slatted piece replaced would be welcome.

I'm thinking it might have been pierced metal?

I might end up putting my own twist on it ... like the word "Accordion" is as many languages as I can find, on a music stave

No, I am sorry, it’s hard to tell what’s going on with that piece from the photo. If it’s not repairable I think a replacement that matches the spirit of the accordion is a good way to go. Don’t forget “sanfona” “gaita” “ddu botte” “cordeen”. Good luck!!!!!

 

[Onemoreproject]

No, I am sorry, it’s hard to tell what’s going on with that piece from the photo. If it’s not repairable I think a replacement that matches the spirit of the accordion is a good way to go. Don’t forget “sanfona” “gaita” “ddu botte” “cordeen”. Good luck!!!!!

... and so the word list begins!

 

[Tom]

Dragspel

 

[Onemoreproject]

I found a list... 96 languages! although at a glance about 1/3 look pretty much the same
Should be enough to be going on with

 

[Tom]

I found a list... 96 languages! although at a glance about 1/3 look pretty much the same
Should be enough to be going on with

Can you post a link? Thanks!!!

 

[Onemoreproject]

You have to be prepared to spend five minutes deleting the individual "legitimate interest" cookies on this one but:

Accordion in Different Languages. Translate, Listen, and Learn

Explore our list for saying accordion in different languages. Learn 100+ ways to say accordion in other languages, expand your skills and connect across cultures.

www.indifferentlanguages.com

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

Oh, does the slatted piece cover the right hand keyboard mechanism? If so then yes, it's a replacement for what was almost definitely a plated brass grille, the same as the sheet of metal that surrounds the bass buttons. It would have had an intricate design cut into it, sometimes by machine but often by hand. In that case, you definitely want to replace it, simply because it would look so much nicer than the current substitute! You could go the easy way and drill some holes in a sheet of aluminium, or if you wanted to put some time into it you could draw a design up digitally, taking inspiration (or copying) from original instruments, and either attempt to cut it out by hand or send it off to a laser cutting service to have it made in plywood or metal. I'd personally choose the latter; it'd be an interesting project!

 

[Tom]

You have to be prepared to spend five minutes deleting the individual "legitimate interest" cookies on this one but:

Accordion in Different Languages. Translate, Listen, and Learn

Explore our list for saying accordion in different languages. Learn 100+ ways to say accordion in other languages, expand your skills and connect across cultures.

www.indifferentlanguages.com

Interesting. Mostly “official” terms. Not what people “really” call them. Ie no “squeezebox” “cordeen” “Gaita” “sanfona” “accordiAn”. You need to start a new page with what people “actually” call our beloved instrument!

 

[Onemoreproject]

Interesting. Mostly “official” terms. Not what people “really” call them. Ie no “squeezebox” “cordeen” “Gaita” “sanfona” “accordiAn”. You need to start a new page with what people “actually” call our beloved instrument!

The more you can come up with that are not on that website the better

 

[Onemoreproject]

Oh, does the slatted piece cover the right hand keyboard mechanism? If so then yes, it's a replacement for what was almost definitely a plated brass grille, the same as the sheet of metal that surrounds the bass buttons. It would have had an intricate design cut into it, sometimes by machine but often by hand. In that case, you definitely want to replace it, simply because it would look so much nicer than the current substitute! You could go the easy way and drill some holes in a sheet of aluminium, or if you wanted to put some time into it you could draw a design up digitally, taking inspiration (or copying) from original instruments, and either attempt to cut it out by hand or send it off to a laser cutting service to have it made in plywood or metal. I'd personally choose the latter; it'd be an interesting project!

I think I'd go for the laser cut international language stave .... but not until I have it up and running again!
On the non-connecting rod & lever, the rod seems to still have its spring in place and working, but the little lever doesn't connect correctly .... possibly just bent??
Am loath to go bending bits "back" before knowing what the rationale is......
Sorry, don't know the correct terms, YET!
I'll try to mark up a photograph or two.

 

[Jose EB5AGV]

So this photo shows the slatted panel in all it's glory ... and the card propped up also looks to be an "aftermarket cover up job" because when fitted, half of it covered a fair bit of the inlay work

My family run a business of artistic marquetry since 1914 and those inlays on the side seem like some models they manufactured from the beginning until 2000, when it sadly was closed. I still have some samples and catalogs (with real samples) and have fond memories of those inlays and the smell of exotic woods they used to manufacture them

 

[Onemoreproject]

My family run a business of artistic marquetry since 1914 and those inlays on the side seem like some models they manufactured from the beginning until 2000, when it sadly was closed. I still have some samples and catalogs (with real samples) and have fond memories of those inlays and the smell of exotic woods they used to manufacture them

Hi Jose ... interesting connection!
I messaged "Beat" Zimmerman who built the collection in Switzerland, and he reckons the panel "missing in action" would have been a wooden panel not unlike the one on the other side ... so not metal as I thought, which means the names-on-a-music stave idea may be more difficult to achieve.
Probably best to not over think it, and just reflect the surviving panel in the new replacement ...
Maybe I can shift the idea to the other "aftermarket" panel ... not on show then, so just a kind of private joke I guess

Thanks for sharing ... I'm already gaining more from this forum than I had expected

 

[Dingo40]

I'm thinking it might have been pierced metal?

I'd say you're right!
At first sight, it looks like a piece of repurposed roller-top desk top.

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

Hi Jose ... interesting connection!
I messaged "Beat" Zimmerman who built the collection in Switzerland, and he reckons the panel "missing in action" would have been a wooden panel not unlike the one on the other side ... so not metal as I thought, which means the names-on-a-music stave idea may be more difficult to achieve.

Hate to say that I disagree with the curator of an accordion museum specialising in early instruments, but I think he's wrong. Italian boxes with wooden grilles seem to very uncommon compared to those with metal, and from what I gather metal grilles and metal button panels seem to often come together. Plus, I have evidence >

https://reverb.com/item/41177691-vintage-crucianelli-antique-accordion

How similar is this to your box?