CBA - non-functional fifth row

[TomBR]

I have a 120 bass Fratelli Crosio CBA, MML with the Low in cassotto.
I got it for not very much money on Ebay and I like playing it a lot! (Meant both ways.)

Just one puzzle - the innermost fifth row on the treble is non-functional. The buttons are clearly on very short arms and are not connected to anything. This doesn't bother me at all as I'm sticking to playing on three rows for the moment anyway.

But why? Was the fifth row ever connected to anything? If it's just for appearance, why go to all the effort of mounting a dummy row on separate sprung arms?

Anyone come across something similar?
Thanks,
Tom

 

[Geronimo]

My guess is that this was a C system instrument changed to B system or the other way round. Which is basically a matter of rearranging the reeds on a 3-row but a whole lot of work for changing the helper rows. The job likely was easier (or at all possible) to do on the fourth row than on the fifth.

That's my guess for whatever it may be worth.

 

[debra]

My guess is that this was a C system instrument changed to B system or the other way round. Which is basically a matter of rearranging the reeds on a 3-row but a whole lot of work for changing the helper rows. The job likely was easier (or at all possible) to do on the fourth row than on the fifth.

Thats my guess for whatever it may be worth.

I agree with your guess. When an accordion is changed from B to C or vice versa it is difficult but doable to adapt the 4rd row but I would hesitate to try and adapt the 5th row so it works. (I wouldnt even try the conversion at all.)

 

[TomBR]

Thanks gents, that does make very good sense. It plays well on the four rows so it's no problem for me. (C system)