Some projects upcoming!

[Mr Mark]

So I have been collecting some older, smaller, dirt cheap fixer upper accordions for a while now and have accumulated enough for a production rebuild run. I thought I would share these photos and see what kind of interest they generate, and what relevant information the wise and venerable members here might be able to share. The most interesting one to me is the Paolo Soprani, the register selectors are written; Celeste, Saxofon, Mastro, Violonc and Flauto. My Italian is rough at best but figure I can make out what they mean. These will give me some inventory in a somewhat more sought after category - being smaller stroller types, and keep my skills sharp while I'm sure to be learning some things about each manufacturer. They are pretty rough in terms of wax/leather condition, so initial assessments on tuning are not really feasible...so I'm also very curious to know if anyone has insight as to what degree of wet or dry tuning these may have originated with ?.

 

[Tom]

Hi Mr. Mark,

I'm sorry I don't know the tuning, but I wish you luck, this is a great project for you. Keep us updated please!

 

[Mr Mark]

Small update. I have completed work on the Paolo Soprani as of a couple weeks ago. It has turned out very well, so much so it seems I can't put it down (and the other accordions are getting jealous). As for tuning, it was quite impossible to tell where it was originally so I went with something similar to my Hohners (sacrilege I'm sure) which ends up pretty wet with about 9 cents variation either way from centre C.

New wax, leathers, soundboard felt glue (kinda worried for a bit until I figured it out when the tuning process wasn't working out after all that work), and one new soundboard slider 3d printed. Also completely disassembled. cleaned and reassembled the bass mechanism for good measure, it seems salt and smokes are not so good for old metal bits. Feeling accomplished here, definitely on the improve with the skills!

This one seemed the best to proceed with of the lot. Somewhere along the way I have also rebuilt another old Hohner Tango IIB, and that also turned out swell (another 3D printed slider in there also). I am not sure I will proceed with the other two based upon the bellows condition, but if I can get a handle on fixing or making new with those then I will.

I just wish these would stop sounding better, the idea was not to keep them!

 

[JerryPH]

Great projects! I'd love to get in to accordion repair... but I already have so little time, that I'd likely never pick one up to play it if I went this route, so I'll live vicariously through your exploits!

Maybe some day!

 

[Valski]

Small update. I have completed work on the Paolo Soprani as of a couple weeks ago. It has turned out very well, so much so it seems I can't put it down (and the other accordions are getting jealous). As for tuning, it was quite impossible to tell where it was originally so I went with something similar to my Hohners (sacrilege I'm sure) which ends up pretty wet with about 9 cents variation either way from centre C.

New wax, leathers, soundboard felt glue (kinda worried for a bit until I figured it out when the tuning process wasn't working out after all that work), and one new soundboard slider 3d printed. Also completely disassembled. cleaned and reassembled the bass mechanism for good measure, it seems salt and smokes are not so good for old metal bits. Feeling accomplished here, definitely on the improve with the skills!

This one seemed the best to proceed with of the lot. Somewhere along the way I have also rebuilt another old Hohner Tango IIB, and that also turned out swell (another 3D printed slider in there also). I am not sure I will proceed with the other two based upon the bellows condition, but if I can get a handle on fixing or making new with those then I will.

I just wish these would stop sounding better, the idea was not to keep them!

I love this comment about sounding better. Every accordion can produce amazingly sweet sounds, you just need to uncover the potential. Sometimes when I get the opportunity to play an accordion that lives in a case at the back of a closet the sounds that are generated are absolutely divine. The rest of the instrument may have faults, but to me there is something magical in each accordion.

 

[Mr Mark]

Great projects! I'd love to get in to accordion repair... but I already have so little time, that I'd likely never pick one up to play it if I went this route, so I'll live vicariously through your exploits!

Maybe some day!

Thanks! Time is something we all have less of unfortunately. There are many reasons for me to have undertaken these things, primarily to keep my head in the game as a tech alongside advancing my skillset - of course the offset has meant serious detriment to my playing regimen (which is now back under way thankfully). I have been seriously fortunate to have had the time, and am happy to have not squandered it else how. It is really hard to progress without continuity of time, I think mostly because there is SO much to actually DO.

I don’t mind being the vicarian…the shared experience collective at this place is great ?.

 

[Mr Mark]

I love this comment about sounding better. Every accordion can produce amazingly sweet sounds, you just need to uncover the potential. Sometimes when I get the opportunity to play an accordion that lives in a case at the back of a closet the sounds that are generated are absolutely divine. The rest of the instrument may have faults, but to me there is something magical in each accordion.

Absolutely! This explains why I feel like some disenchanted wizard every time I sell one, like I am abandoning some sort of great potential life form. Amazing how even the most mediocre of accordions can elicit this response.