Help appreciate.

[Niknak]

Hi. When I was very young I found an old dusty piano accordion in a library under a table. I was taking piano lessons at the time so I figured some things out and was able to play some popular tunes by ear on it. My father bought me an old 80 base piano accordion and I just played for fun. Later I stopped and continued studying the piano & violin for some years. I performed on the piano in my piano class recital and was a string player in a community orchestra. My fascination with the accordion was still there so I bought this accordion in 2002. I started trying to learn it for a few weeks. Then things happened in my life and this stayed in the case for 22 years. I just took it out of the case today to test it. Everything is in great shape-keys, bellows, etc. I’m lost though. Not sure what type of accordion this is. I tried looking it up on line but couldn’t find much. I don’t know much about accordion types so I’m not sure what I have. I read some things about c & b systems, converter and standard, etc. I would appreciate some help. Photos below. Thanks.

 

[Dingo40]

I don’t know much about accordion types so I’m not sure what I have.

Hi Niknak, and welcome!
Well, it's quite a beauty!
It's by a reputed maker.
It's a five row chromatic button accordion (CBA), meaning the same notes sound whether opening or closing the bellows.
It has four treble and five bass voices (sets of reeds).
The treble reeds are arranged LMMM (low, middle, middle, middle). Based on pipe organ tubes, the L sound corresponds to that of a 16' long tube and the middle to that of an 8' tube.
Having three middle sets of reeds, gives it the option of a "full" three-reed musette.
It has a 120 "Stradella" bass.
I don't play CBA myself but someone will explain which of the several CBA systems it is and how many treble notes it has.
It's a very good thing!
You had a good eye in 2002!
From the web:
"People also ask
Are Pigini accordions good?
Created in 1946, the Pigini accordion factory has over the years become the most favoured brand in prestigious schools of classical and jazz music throughout the world."
Here's a link to a past, wide ranging thread to the Pigini Ellegaard line of CBAs (quite a variety) which may possibly be of general interest to you?:

A

Thread 'Ellegaard Special Line by Pigini'

Sep 28, 2023

I’m curious about this line of accordions because I’m using the Ellegaard method to teach myself C-System free bass on a Roland FR-4x PA and hoping I live long enough to purchase a C-Griff CBA.

I’ve seen some used models in the Ellegaard Special line for sale in various sites around the Web. They range from full-sized CBAs with stepped treble to small ones with flat treble keyboards. Some have converter bass, some only C-System bass. Yet Pigini’s website doesn’t have any mention of them.

I’m curious about when they were made and if and when Pigini stopped making them. I assume that if...

• Alan Sharkis
• Replies: 19
• Forum: Accordion Makes & Models

 

[Niknak]

Hi Niknak, and welcome!
Well, it's quite a beauty!
It's by a reputed maker.
It's a five row chromatic button accordion (the same notes sound whether opening or closing the bellows.
It has four treble and five bass voices (sets of reeds).
The reeds are arranged LMMM (low middle
middl middle), giving it the option of a "full" three-reed musette.
It has a 120 "Stradella" bass.
I don't play CBC myself but someone will explain which of the CBC systems it is and how many treble notes it has.
It's a very good thing!

Thanks very much. Seems like I have a lot of learning to do.

 

[jfeagans]

Hi Niknak, and welcome!
Well, it's quite a beauty!
It's by a reputed maker.
It's a five row chromatic button accordion (the same notes sound whether opening or closing the bellows.
It has four treble and five bass voices (sets of reeds).
The reeds are arranged LMMM (low middle
middl middle), giving it the option of a "full" three-reed musette.
It has a 120 "Stradella" bass.
I don't play CBC myself but someone will explain which of the CBC systems it is and how many treble notes it has.
It's a very good thing!
You had a good eye in 2002!

That is a C-system. You see the A and C white buttons on the first row.

 

[dunlustin]

I thought 'Ellegard' accordion models had Freebass.
Mogens Ellegard was an early promotor of the accordion as a 'serious' instrument and Freebass was part of that.
Looking at the marks on the bass buttons, I think it is Standard (or Stradella) bass layout.
Is there another register giving access to Freebass?
Anyway, as Dingo says, a very nice instrument.