IMPOSSIBLE ? Accordion IDENTIFICATION HELP ????

[amiart]

So, about 36 years ago, I came into the living room and witnessed my mom's accordion being broken / chopped up and being thrown into the fire, other 1/2 of the marriage that was falling apart took issue with it
for some reason her dad had bought it for her. I am trying to figure out the exact model and then see if I can find an affordable replacement. I have felt awful about it all this time Have wondered if there could have been something I could have done differently to save it.

I *THINK it was a honer brand but NOT sure at all

I remember it having so many buttons and keys on it I *THINK it had like two or three chrome paddle like buttons somewhere on it like picture #3 and then like maybe about 8 secondary type buttons like the two in picture #1 just above the keys could have been less but seemed like more than 4 then the keys and all the small buttons on it, as well. lots and lots of buttons

the airholes on it were not overly ornate and I think they mostly were just like screened it and similar pattern to picture #1

It had a baffles ? design on it similar to picture #4

I am pretty sure it had some of the pearlized look to it like in picture #3

Anyways that is the best I can describe it from 36 years ago on its way into the fireplace

PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN

 

[Dingo40]

I'm sorry I'm not knowledgeable enough to be able to help. I hope your description jogs someone's memory here and you get the answer you're looking for .
Is there any possibility of contacting your mother's relatives in case they have a photo of her with the accordion?
Might this guy be able to help you?

Accordion Repair Shop San Jose – Just another WordPress site

Good luck!

 

[debra]

Very hard to guess what accordion your mother might have had.
If the bellows had a pattern like in pictures 3 and 4 then it was most likely not a Hohner as they tended to come with either a solid black bellow or a white bellow with black bellows tape, but not something with a pattern.
I'm sure your mother would be very happy with any accordion, as long as it's the same system (like piano-accordion instead of button accordion).

 

[Ben-jammin]

Just some insight from your description.
1)4 to 8 treble register switches- this usually indicates an accordion that likely has 3 treble reed sets. Pretty much every builder would make some instruments with this reed arrangement. Doesn’t tell if it would have been Low, middle, high or low, middle, middle.
2) three bass register switches would make me think there are 5 bass reed sets so the accordion was probably a 120 bass 3/5 reed configuration (but could have been 3/4)
3) I believe the less ornate grill design was not uncommon for several Italian built brands in the 50s.

With that said, there were many (hundreds) different brands of accordions built at that time and some details of each especially cosmetics could change year to year and even example to example. It’s not even uncommon on this forum for someone to display a picture of an accordion and there be no way to identify the builder.

 

[JIM D.]

If I had to wager, I would say is was an . Excelsior model Accordiana.
Is this close?? --

Black Accordion Excelsior Accordiana Model 306 Black | Reverb

PRICE IS FIRM! Brand: ExcelsiorModel: Accordiana 306Type: Piano AccordionReeds: 2/4 LMTreble: 41 Keys, 17.5"(44.5cm) Key to Key, 3 RegistersBass: 120 Bass Buttons, 2 RegistersI professionally restore accordions and this instrument is fully functional and ready to go! Happy to throw in a free less...

reverb.com

Or this ??

5664 - Black Excelsior Accordiana 606 Piano Accordion LMM 41 120 | Reverb UK

Type: Piano Accordion Reeds: 3/4 LMM (A444Hz +7 cents) Treble: 41 Keys, 17"(43cm) Key to Key, 5 Registers Bass: 120 Bass Buttons, 3 Registers Weight: 19.5lbs / 9kg Features: Compact and lightweight with demi-swing tuning

reverb.com

 

[Scuromondo]

Based on the information provided, it would be nearly impossible to identify the exact accordion you are looking for. It would be analogous to trying to guess an obsolete automobile model from a description saying only that it had four doors, round headlights, chrome trim, and maybe an automatic transmission.

 

[amiart]

If I had to wager, I would say is was an . Excelsior model Accordiana.
Is this close?? --

Black Accordion Excelsior Accordiana Model 306 Black | Reverb

PRICE IS FIRM! Brand: ExcelsiorModel: Accordiana 306Type: Piano AccordionReeds: 2/4 LMTreble: 41 Keys, 17.5"(44.5cm) Key to Key, 3 RegistersBass: 120 Bass Buttons, 2 RegistersI professionally restore accordions and this instrument is fully functional and ready to go! Happy to throw in a free less...

reverb.com

Or this ??

5664 - Black Excelsior Accordiana 606 Piano Accordion LMM 41 120 | Reverb UK

Type: Piano Accordion Reeds: 3/4 LMM (A444Hz +7 cents) Treble: 41 Keys, 17"(43cm) Key to Key, 5 Registers Bass: 120 Bass Buttons, 3 Registers Weight: 19.5lbs / 9kg Features: Compact and lightweight with demi-swing tuning

reverb.com

I think it was quite close to the first picture but the Air holes ??? not sure what those are called were much different.

FORGOT to mention she got it when young , asked about it and she said her dad bought it used .. so it MOST LIKELY WAS FROM THE LATE 1930S ( I don't think it was VERY used / old at all at the time is my guess) guessing a late 1940's model to Mid 50's model she was a teen in the 50's

 

[amiart]

Based on the information provided, it would be nearly impossible to identify the exact accordion you are looking for. It would be analogous to trying to guess an obsolete automobile model from a description saying only that it had four doors, round headlights, chrome trim, and maybe an automatic transmission.

Yes absolutely or identifying a plant by saying it was green and had leaves. Well It would have MOST likely have been a mid 1940s model to mid early 1950s model she got it as a teen in the 50s and said her dad got it used.

 

[amiart]

Very hard to guess what accordion your mother might have had.
If the bellows had a pattern like in pictures 3 and 4 then it was most likely not a Hohner as they tended to come with either a solid black bellow or a white bellow with black bellows tape, but not something with a pattern.
I'm sure your mother would be very happy with any accordion, as long as it's the same system (like piano-accordion instead of button accordion).

No idea why I think honer, just seems like it might have been, curious question do people ever replace the billows thing if it gets damaged ? If so would have they changed it to or could have changed it to a different brand or one with a pattern where there normally is not ? could have hers been a mutant of some kind ?

 

[debra]

No idea why I think honer, just seems like it might have been, curious question do people ever replace the billows thing if it gets damaged ? If so would have they changed it to or could have changed it to a different brand or one with a pattern where there normally is not ? could have hers been a mutant of some kind ?

People do change bellows tape more than the whole bellows. I have a vintage Crucianelli for instance that came with a nice V-shape pattern in the bellows tape, but the tape was worn out (at the bottom and the back) and I replaced it by new all black tape. The bellows itself are still original, it's only the tape that's new.

 

[Dingo40]

Amiart,
Is your Mum still alive?
If so, perhaps she has relatives who may have a photo of her using it?
Even in the 30s, 40s, and 50s there were hundreds of makes and models across several countries.