restoring an accordion

[arty morty]

Hi. I'm not a player but own my late father's accordion. He was quite a decent standard but after he died the accordion was forgotten and spent a while in a shed. It's made by I Busilacchio (sp?) and is button only, that is to say it's not a piano accordion. I would imagine it's much older than me (50) and hasn't been played or even taken out of its case since the mid 90s

So to get to the point. Who/where would be my best bet for getting it refurbished?

Thanks and hello!

 

[JIM D.]

Hi Morty: First of all "Welcome" There are some knowledgeable members here that will be glad to assist you including myself. First, 2 questions -- Were are you located and can you provide pic's of your accordion?? JIM D.

 

[arty morty]

Hi Jim. Thanks for your reply. I'm in Walthamstow, north east London and can put some photos up.

 

[Soulsaver]

Hi Arty, Echo Jim's welcome. Around 20 years in its case in the shed, will beg the question whether it will be economical to restore, depending to some extrent if you want it restored to sell it? Or another motive?
So when we see the pics we may have an idea of the model and what its worth may be when restored.. :|

 

[arty morty]

Hi. Thanks for your reply. I should have been a bit clearer. It was only in the shed for a few months. I just took some pictures (uploading soon) and it still looks in good condition. The paper of the bellows is intact as are the straps. There are a few of the buttons missing (the push pin ones) but they were when my dad played it. I can get a tune out of it but must confess to being a stringed instrument player.

 

[arty morty]

Heres one I took just now. Others from other sides will follow.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v642/BWW/acc1_zps1db7b508.jpg>

 

[arty morty]

Here are the others. Its a little dusty but seems in pretty good condition otherwise.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v642/BWW/acc3_zps01827f11.jpg>

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v642/BWW/acc1_zps1db7b508.jpg>

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v642/BWW/acc2_zps95d835b4.jpg>

 

[Tom]

Beautiful Arty! I think this is definetly worth restoring if it's not too bad off. Around here you would call it a "Chromatic Button Accordion" or CBA. Are you going to restore it yourself or bring it somewhere? If you have the bucks, someone on here will have the name of a decent and responsible repair location in your area. If you are going to do it your self they will refer you to the accordion restoration website (I don't have the url offhand) and provide as much help as you need to keep you going. OK, I don't know you from Adam but I say, restore it and learn to play it!!!! It'll be a great addition to your strings. Tom

 

[arty morty]

Thanks Tom. I really want to get it back close to original condition but after that I don't know. None of my children have ever shown interest in it, but they are all young girls so no real surprise there. I emigrating to the US next year as wife who's from upstate New York wants to return home and as this weighs quite a bit I may just end up selling it.

 

[JIM D.]

Hi Arty; From your Pic's I think this one is worth a go for a rebuild. If you think this might be of sentimental value to you, take it back across the pond. My shop is only 2 hours from upstate N.Y. There's a market for these box'es here and the cost for a rebuild will only be 1/4 of the total value of this one when it's finished. Jim Dascanio "THE FISARMONICA SHOP" Chicopee, MA <EMAIL email="jimmyd413@gmail.com">jimmyd413@gmail.com</EMAIL>

 

[arty morty]

Thanks Jim. The only thing that really discourages me from taking over is its weight and cost. By the way, that's the original case it's sitting on; bet you don't see many like that anymore!

 

[JIM D.]

Hi Arty; Yes I have seen accordion cases of all sizes and different qualities. In the years your accordion was built firms from Germany, Italy and US made accordions and shipped the instrument packaged without cases. These accordion firms were not in the luggage business and left it up to the importer or distributor to provide a soft or hard case with or without a logo badge. In the US firms such as Titano,Sano,Bell, Giulietti and even Quality Italian made Hohner's Had their accordions shipped without cases and had a local firm make a custom case with the original accordion badge or the distributor's name applied. Just as you shouldn't take a first impression of a person as accurate, I most say Iv'e learned that upon seeing an instrument coming into my shop with a good looking case or gig bag might just have been stored improperly and a totally worthless and then see an instrument come in with a very beat up case but contain a well cared for musical instrument. I have been making custom instrument cases for some years now as the old classics I rebuild require a quality case for transport. The new Roland line of V accordions are sold without cases as are most imported accordions from Europe, and it's up to the distributor to either supply you with a gig bag or a hard case from a different supplier. Soft bags from Italian firms are made by Italcinti and will cost you more with a brand name on it. Shipping a hard case from Europe is costly and always more inexpensive to have it made by a local supplier. There is an exemption from this practice of shipping instruments without cases and it is with Chinese imports. As most all of the Chinese instruments sold today come with cases or bags that are of superior quality to the instruments they contain. Keep Playing And Have Fun; JIM D.

 

[Tom]

If Jim restores it I'll buy it.

 

[Soulsaver]

You cant say fairer than that... :ch