• If you haven't done so already, please add a location to your profile. This helps when people are trying to assist you, suggest resources, etc. Thanks
  • We're having a little contest, running until 15th May. Please feel free to enter - see the thread in the "I Did That" section of the forum. Don't be shy, have a go!

Les Trois Freres Deveydt antique accordion

Stacie

Newbie
Joined
Jul 8, 2023
Messages
3
Reaction score
3
Location
Sacramento, USA
Hi Everyone,

I am new to this forum and to the accordion. I recently purchased an old accordion from an antique store in Roseville, California. I mainly play the saxophone and at the time of purchase knew next to nothing about accordions. I love vintage/antique musical instruments and this one caught my eye because I think it is beautiful, charming, and it sparked my curiosity! I have done a lot of research over the past week and here is what I can tell you about it. It's labeled Les Trois Freres Deveydt, Bruxelles. I found a little piece of paper inside that says Den Haag Westeinde 129 (The Hague, West End, 129). There are also remnants of a label on the back of the bass-side cover, also written in Dutch, that says ‘address’, ‘contents’, and ‘signature’. So, maybe it was made in the Netherlands and sold in Belgium?

The treble section has three rows, and the reed blocks are labeled B-C-E, respectively. It is a button accordion with a 48 straight bass system. To me, it looks very similar to an old Paolo Soprani accordion with the same treble button style and decorative detailing, but with a Belgian straight bass system. I have not been able to find any other accordions with the same bass system and have not been able to find any information about it. I was wondering if you can tell me about it and the layout of the notes, or if you can point me in the right direction (in English, preferably). Also any other info you can provide about the accordion will be greatly appreciated.

The accordion is currently unplayable and I am working on doing the repairs myself. When I disassembled it I found that the support beam for the treble reed blocks had fallen off along with all three reed blocks. Surprisingly, only a couple of reeds fell out. I have glued the support beam back in place and the blocks fit back in securely now. On the bass side, a handful of reeds have fallen off. I purchased new leather valves and accordion wax and will work on replacing everything soon. The bellows look to be in pretty good shape, as far as I can tell! I have straightened a few bent bass buttons and carefully cleaned the mechanism. Let me know if this is rare & valuable, and belongs in a museum. Otherwise, at the very least, I think I can put it back together and make some noise with it 😊

Here are some pictures of the accordion. Thanks for your time!
Stacie
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1936.jpeg
    IMG_1936.jpeg
    440 KB · Views: 22
  • 357625418_1197470648318838_414600269444058828_n.jpg
    357625418_1197470648318838_414600269444058828_n.jpg
    109.7 KB · Views: 21
  • IMG_1988.jpeg
    IMG_1988.jpeg
    261.1 KB · Views: 21
  • Screen Shot 2023-07-08 at 11.29.56 AM.png
    Screen Shot 2023-07-08 at 11.29.56 AM.png
    1.9 MB · Views: 21
  • 357783874_967002631213508_3957270002015918588_n.jpg
    357783874_967002631213508_3957270002015918588_n.jpg
    51.6 KB · Views: 21
  • 357720627_651711673542694_3792166197410301280_n.jpg
    357720627_651711673542694_3792166197410301280_n.jpg
    130.2 KB · Views: 19
  • 357613783_6447691068601689_2615051309505885084_n.jpg
    357613783_6447691068601689_2615051309505885084_n.jpg
    99.1 KB · Views: 19
  • 357347375_843687573274076_6218876609971945701_n.jpg
    357347375_843687573274076_6218876609971945701_n.jpg
    95.5 KB · Views: 19
  • 357760541_272702535410028_6179354830347749010_n.jpg
    357760541_272702535410028_6179354830347749010_n.jpg
    89.8 KB · Views: 19
  • IMG_1868.jpeg
    IMG_1868.jpeg
    422.8 KB · Views: 20
Welcome Stacie 🙂👍.
Very sensible to provide the pictures as "a picture is worth a thousand words!"🙂
I'm sure someone will turn up soon who is able to tell you what you have there.
Good luck with your project!🙂
 
It's a chromatic button accordion. The arrangement of the 3 rows would indicate B system but with E-G row on the outside. This matches the Belgian bass system which facilitates playing in a minor key.
It's very interesting to me, as I have an antique 3 row Chromatic C system (although there are some black keys in a 4th row for design) but with Belgian bass. I have theorized that the treble was changed from B system, which is possible with only the 3 rows.
 
It's a chromatic button accordion. The arrangement of the 3 rows would indicate B system but with E-G row on the outside. This matches the Belgian bass system which facilitates playing in a minor key.
It's very interesting to me, as I have an antique 3 row Chromatic C system (although there are some black keys in a 4th row for design) but with Belgian bass. I have theorized that the treble was changed from B system, which is possible with only the 3 rows.
Thank you for the information! You are the first person I have found that knows anything about this type of accordion. Can you explain more about the B system and the layout of the bass system? Do you know of a chart I can view that shows what keys correspond to which notes?
 
I found a little scrap of paper with this beautiful picture on it! It was wedged under the support for one of the reed blocks. Such a cool little treasure to find! I love it and wish I could see the whole image! :love:
 

Attachments

  • 360920825_972175627160707_6046795429955714170_n.jpg
    360920825_972175627160707_6046795429955714170_n.jpg
    230.3 KB · Views: 14
Thank you for the information! You are the first person I have found that knows anything about this type of accordion. Can you explain more about the B system and the layout of the bass system? Do you know of a chart I can view that shows what keys correspond to which notes?
If you download the Roland FR1xb manual you wil find virtually every known treble and bass layout is shown
 
Back
Top