New with questions about newly acquired old occordion

[Murrayatuptown]

Hello:

Murray from Holland Michigan, US

My daughter's boyfriend picked up an old Lyric accordion with piano keys and 48 (bass?) buttons.

We're trying to find out more about it.

My daughter plays violin so at least she can hear if things are in or out of tune and tried it out (no bow!)...at least it plays, some reeds are out of tune.

So it seems like it's not a basket case...

I found little about Lyric online...possibly connected to Wurlitzer? There was also a Lyric Piano company at some point. One person said theirs was German, another said Italian. I suppose both are possible if Lyric was imported by someone else.

I had trouble posting here from a phone so I'm on a PC now. I have photos in my phone, and tried one earlier with my first post but got forum script errors I'll see if a text-only post works.

Thanks for reading!

Murray

 

[Murrayatuptown]

https://www.flickr.com/gp/murrayatuptowngallery/795pNn

 

[Soulsaver]

Hi Murray, Thanks for posting up the pics. This is a pre WW2 accordion, prob 1930s maybe a little earlier. Accordions from this far back are a blank to most of us... including me I'm afraid. There is a nice sounding one on utub...
I'm sorry to say accordions from those days, needing work, aren't sought after, albeit 12x4 is probably the best layout for a starter instrument.


Good luck.

 

[AccordionUprising]

Is the patent on the case? Might be this one?

http://www.google.com/patents/USD86270
M. A. REITER Des. 86,270
CASE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, SUCH AS AN ACCORDION OR THE LIKE Feb. 16, 1932.
Filed Nov 6, 1931 Patented Feb. 16, 1932 Des. 86,270


Thats a pretty cool spider-web grill. Im guessing late 1920s, but others will know better.
If it has out of tune reeds it will need maintenance. Others may know better, but most older accordions cost more to repair than they are worth unfortunately.
On the other hand, smaller-size accordions like that (with more than a beginner 12 bass) are worth more than a heavy 120 bass because theyre less common, and in demand today.

The best you can do is get it looked at in person by a repair person wholl tell you what its worth. Its almost impossible for anybody to judge the details of an older accordion without opening it up and looking at it.

More on used accordions here:
http://accordionrevival.com/OWNER_S_MANUAL.php

 

[Murrayatuptown]

Thank you!

 

[Murrayatuptown]

Yes, patent on the case