Crucianelli query

[Angela]

Hi,

I have a basic question, and probably a repetitive one. Needless to say, I’m new here, and I’m mostly here for advice; my mom played the accordion her mom bought her in the 50s, and when she dropped it off at my home in 2012, I took it to an accordion person in the Atlanta area to have it fixed, thinking that I would play it, but I find that I’m not strong enough for it, and so it has sat here for 13 years. I’d love to find a home for it with someone who might actually enjoy it, but I don’t know what I have nor where to try to find it a home.

I’m writing for two reasons: 1. I’d like to have some viable ideas for places I might donate — I can image that my local university’s music department (where I work) might be interested maybe, but I’m looking for suggestions.

2. I’d like to know what it’s worth, I guess. It’s got two sticky keys, at the high end, two black keys, and they resolve relatively quickly. They make noise, they don’t stay stuck.

Thanks in advance for any responses/thoughts. Also, I’ve enjoyed reading through recent posts on this forum/watching videos of people playing; I’m so tempted to try again with this instrument, but my back isn’t what it was, alas.

Angela

 

[Ventura]

Buongiorno Angela,

since you are now in Harrisonburg, i would suggest you schedule
to come visit the Maryland Accordion Club during a meeting
(first Saturday of the month, Catonsburg MD.)

several members have similar models, Joe has the top of the line
model in that series.. You would find out a lot and they would fuss
over it a bit maybe even fix those small problems on the spot for you..
at the least you would find out much about this accordion..

bring pictures of your Mom playing it if possible.. someone might
recognize her..

i can tell you it is full size, a 4 reed treble and 5 reed bass, and
a quality build possibly professional build and it has value still

You would likely be able to see a way forward after making friends there !

https://www.accordionists.info/members/accordionna.2232/

Donna can help you schedule a visit,, just pm her

ciao

Ventura

 

[Chickers]

Angela:
Welcome.
Nice looking Crucianelli accordion. I have always wanted one of those accordions, but was not fortunate enough to find one for sale in my area, at a reasonable price.
Definitely a very desireable accordion---in my opinion.
It appears as you are located about 400 miles from Cleveland; not sure if I would like to make that kind of a drive---but maybe.
Let me know if you decide to sell the Crucianelli, and what your price would be. Personal email---; jg4tools@gmail.com
CHICKERS

 

[Angela]

Buongiorno Angela,

since you are now in Harrisonburg, i would suggest you schedule
to come visit the Maryland Accordion Club during a meeting
(first Saturday of the month, Catonsburg MD.)

several members have similar models, Joe has the top of the line
model in that series.. You would find out a lot and they would fuss
over it a bit maybe even fix those small problems on the spot for you..
at the least you would find out much about this accordion..

bring pictures of your Mom playing it if possible.. someone might
recognize her..

i can tell you it is full size, a 4 reed treble and 5 reed bass, and
a quality build possibly professional build and it has value still

You would likely be able to see a way forward after making friends there !

https://www.accordionists.info/members/accordionna.2232/

Donna can help you schedule a visit,, just pm her

ciao

Ventura

Thanks for this information, Ventura!

I appreciate you taking the time to explain. And thanks for the heads up about the club. I definitely will try to make a meeting — end of semester may make next week hard, but I may be able to swing it.

Best,
Angela

 

[Angela]

Angela:
Welcome.
Nice looking Crucianelli accordion. I have always wanted one of those accordions, but was not fortunate enough to find one for sale in my area, at a reasonable price.
Definitely a very desireable accordion---in my opinion.
It appears as you are located about 400 miles from Cleveland; not sure if I would like to make that kind of a drive---but maybe.
Let me know if you decide to sell the Crucianelli, and what your price would be. Personal email---; jg4tools@gmail.com
CHICKERS

Hi Chickers,

You know, I’m a potter, and I look at Cleveland sometimes when someone has a good price on a wheel. It’s just a bit more of a distance than I feel like trekking, so I understand the hesitation. Nonetheless, I’ll let you know.

 

[debra]

...

i can tell you it is full size, a 4 reed treble and 5 reed bass, and
a quality build possibly professional build and it has value still

...

The register flappers suggest this is a 3 voice accordion, LMH configuration. Good for classical music. Less so for light music that begs for a tremolo register. My brother used to have a similar Crucianelli (Artiste), with 8 flappers instead of 7, plus master bar, and that one was 4 voice LMMM. These accordions made by Crucianelli are all good quality instruments. Crucianelli was a well-known and well-respected accordion factory, until it burned down in the early 70s. They used good Bugari reeds, which makes them more desirable than many similarly configured accordions from other factories in that era. Economic value for an LMH one may be somewhat limited, but it is certainly still quite valuable as a donation to a music school or department.

 

[Ventura]

oh, you are right.. 3 reed

 

[Chickers]

Hi Chickers,

You know, I’m a potter, and I look at Cleveland sometimes when someone has a good price on a wheel. It’s just a bit more of a distance than I feel like trekking, so I understand the hesitation. Nonetheless, I’ll let you know.

ANGELA;
F.Y.I.
Tom , on this forum is also a potter

 

[Tom]

ANGELA;
F.Y.I.
Tom , on this forum is also a potter

True! And I sold my Crucianelli so look at this one with interest. It’s a very nice accordion and if in good shape, should be worth selling and buying another (used) but smaller accordion to save your back. I would definitely recommend going to the club meeting if you can, to talk to Ventura for help in selling and buying a lighter one. There is definitely a connection between pottery and accordion playing!

 

[Alan Sharkis]

oh, you are right.. 3 reed

I was going to say that.

Accordions wee popular in the mid-fifties, so a band composed of kids from all the elementary schools in the district where I grew up had, including myself, something like six kids playing accordion. There were at least two like the one in Angela's post among them. The first 120-bass accordion that I owned, rather than rented, had the same reed configuration, but it was a Pancordion Video with chromed register switches, rather than the labeled ones on the Crucianellis.

I traveled to a high school a subway ride away from where I lived. When I got there, and got into conversations with another accordion student in my home room, he asked me if my accordion had musette. I replied, "What's that?"

In those days, I knew perhaps 1% of what I now know about accordions from researching them on the Internet in the past twenty years..

 

[Angela]

True! And I sold my Crucianelli so look at this one with interest. It’s a very nice accordion and if in good shape, should be worth selling and buying another (used) but smaller accordion to save your back. I would definitely recommend going to the club meeting if you can, to talk to Ventura for help in selling and buying a lighter one. There is definitely a connection between pottery and accordion playing!

It hadn’t occurred to me that I could look into a smaller one. Thanks for the suggestion/nudge.

 

[Angela]

I was going to say that.

Accordions wee popular in the mid-fifties, so a band composed of kids from all the elementary schools in the district where I grew up had, including myself, something like six kids playing accordion. There were at least two like the one in Angela's post among them. The first 120-bass accordion that I owned, rather than rented, had the same reed configuration, but it was a Pancordion Video with chromed register switches, rather than the labeled ones on the Crucianellis.

I traveled to a high school a subway ride away from where I lived. When I got there, and got into conversations with another accordion student in my home room, he asked me if my accordion had musette. I replied, "What's that?"

In those days, I knew perhaps 1% of what I now know about accordions from researching them on the Internet in the past twenty years..

I still only know a tiny bit, obviously, but this forum is a delight for starting to read.

 

[Accordionna]

Hi,

I have a basic question, and probably a repetitive one. Needless to say, I’m new here, and I’m mostly here for advice; my mom played the accordion her mom bought her in the 50s, and when she dropped it off at my home in 2012, I took it to an accordion person in the Atlanta area to have it fixed, thinking that I would play it, but I find that I’m not strong enough for it, and so it has sat here for 13 years. I’d love to find a home for it with someone who might actually enjoy it, but I don’t know what I have nor where to try to find it a home.

I’m writing for two reasons: 1. I’d like to have some viable ideas for places I might donate — I can image that my local university’s music department (where I work) might be interested maybe, but I’m looking for suggestions.

2. I’d like to know what it’s worth, I guess. It’s got two sticky keys, at the high end, two black keys, and they resolve relatively quickly. They make noise, they don’t stay stuck.

Thanks in advance for any responses/thoughts. Also, I’ve enjoyed reading through recent posts on this forum/watching videos of people playing; I’m so tempted to try again with this instrument, but my back isn’t what it was, alas.

Hi, Angela,
Thanks to @Ventura for connecting us!
It was good checking in with you via FB! I won't be wearing my polkageist apparel when we meet, just so you know to look for a real human.

Looking at this post, you've gotten solid feedback. The two sticky treble keys may be easy fixes. If the instrument hasn't been played since 2012, it may need some service. We've got a few techs at Maryland Accordion Club (MAC) as well as in NOVA and PA. We'll connect you in person if you're with us in June.

You can also reach out to MarylandAccordionClub@gmail.com any time before you find us in Catonsville. Our members will enjoy meeting you and your Mom's Crucianelli.
;-D