Accordion with strange keyboard

[Big Squeezy Accordions]

I once came across an accordion on eBay that looked like an ordinary piano accordion, except that, instead of the normal layout of black and white keys, the keys alternated between black and white symmetrically, so every other key was a black one. It was like a child's drawing of an accordion come to life. Clearly the person selling it had no idea that it was unusual in any way. I really wanted it, but didn't get it. I wish I could remember the brand. Anyone ever seen one of these?

 

[JIM D.]

Your question here might be on a "Uniform keyboard" invented by John Reuther.

the uniform accordion keyboard - Yahoo Video Search Results

The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web.

video.search.yahoo.com

Scarce as Hen's teeth they just most all have found the landfill.

 

[Edward]

Here is a video:

 

[Big Squeezy Accordions]

Your question here might be on a "Uniform keyboard" invented by John Reuther.

the uniform accordion keyboard - Yahoo Video Search Results

The search engine that helps you find exactly what you're looking for. Find the most relevant information, video, images, and answers from all across the Web.

video.search.yahoo.com

Scarce as Hen's teeth they just most all have found the landfill.

Thanks. No, I am familiar with the Reuther keyboard. This one had keys just like a piano accordion, except without any adjacent white keys.

 

[AndyM]

Here's one from a book about vintage accordions I have...
The book is in pdf format - I can email it to you, if you like.

 

[Dingo40]

Wow: interesting!
Thanks for sharing, Andy
Is there a name for it?

 

[Walker]

I once came across an accordion on eBay that looked like an ordinary piano accordion, except that, instead of the normal layout of black and white keys, the keys alternated between black and white symmetrically, so every other key was a black one. It was like a child's drawing of an accordion come to life. Clearly the person selling it had no idea that it was unusual in any way. I really wanted it, but didn't get it. I wish I could remember the brand. Anyone ever seen one of these?

Could be a Vyatka garmon:

Garmon - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

​

 

[Big Squeezy Accordions]

Here's one from a book about vintage accordions I have...
The book is in pdf format - I can email it to you, if you like.

Yes, that's similar to the one I saw, though clearly older and more ornate. The one I saw looked to have been made in the 50s or 60s, so apparently this idea hung around for decades, albeit on the extreme fringe of accordion design.

 

[Big Squeezy Accordions]

Could be a Vyatka garmon:

Garmon - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

​

Nope, though I see the similarity. It was an otherwise unremarkable 50s or 60s Italian-looking accordion.

 

[Siegmund]

And do all of those black keys actually play?

I would give about 10 to 1 odds that this is mechanically a standard piano keyboard, with dummy B#/Cb and E#/Fb keys, or with those keys mechanically attached to one of the adjacent notes.

While there are a very few folks experimenting with 'two rows of six' keyboards with whole tone scales today, I am not aware of such ever being mass produced, then or now.