Beauty contest - looking for contestants

[Pipemajor]

I notice that the accordion on ArtMustel's picture only has 2 rows of buttons.
Would they have used the white piano keys as the 3rd row?

 

[Tom]

I believe your theory is correct, Art. I've read it in numerous articles and believe it has been discussed as such on this forum.

 

[Dingo40]

This from an old post by Soulsaver (thanks!)

Bianco Freres Paris Super - what a looker... !

Makes my heart flutter just looking at it... 43/132.. Irrespective of the name, I believe made in Italy? Click on it twice for a real close up...

www.accordionists.info

 

[craigd]

This from an old post by Soulsaver (thanks!)

Bianco Freres Paris Super - what a looker... !

Makes my heart flutter just looking at it... 43/132.. Irrespective of the name, I believe made in Italy? Click on it twice for a real close up...

www.accordionists.info

Post-war curves on that one, am I right? First time I've seen a curved keyboard on so new a box. The symmetry going from F to B aesthetically pleasing too.

 

[Tartan Ghostie]

Here's one:

Now I know why that arm bone is called a “radius.”

 

[craigd]

Thanks responders, I enjoyed the images and especially the discussion. What got me interested in these decorated boxes was acquiring one myself. It is from a family of accordions made by Guerrini for a Vancouver accordion school that operated from the 50s to the 70s. I got my Camillo Superlini ("make" and model name both derived from the school owner's name, Camillini) a couple of months ago, and have searched for info on it since. I have seen images of around ten of them, and each is slightly different - some little detail of the decorative design is unique to that particular accordion. I didn't buy it just for its looks, it has all the hallmarks of a pro accordion in a compact box and it sounds and plays great, but its appearance and knowing someone added a unique personal touch to it make it a real pleasure to own and play.

 

[knobby]

How about some of these new accordions from Hohner?

 

[Dingo40]

Very nice, Knobby!

 

[Galizi]

I've read somewhere that these CBA disguised as PA were made to allow button accordion players to play in certain piano accordion orchestras, but i don't know if that is true. My theory (that could be totally wrong) is that, at some time, PA were considered more classy, elegant or professional than button boxes and by playing these fakes people would look smarter. Oh well, my theory is not very good either but I'm sure some members of this forum could know the real reason behind this absurd? system...

I've heard - When piano accordions appeared, it was considered more elegant to play it than button accordions. It was usually a little finer instruments that had the systems available and there were several different variants with both 2 and 3 rows of buttons, and also piano keyboards with white "halftones" to fill the gaps to get a complete 4 or 5 row of buttons. I have a few myself

 

[accrevolution]

When I was growin up in the 50's (NE USA) PA was pretty popular; lots of kids took lessons. Tho this was an "after school" thing.