Where do you keep your accordion?

[debra]

The gigbags for accordions that are intended to be stored in the playing orientation actually come with strap lugs to carry the bad in the playing orientation (not all of them) and when you put the accordion in the bag down in the playing orientation they zip open in such a way that you can pull the accordion up from the bag in that orientation and put it back that way too.
When an accordion is in the playing orientation all the valves are horizontal when you consider their length and vertical when you consider their width. So gravity does not pull the valves open or closed.
When you place a (LM) cassotto accordion in its feet then gravity pulls on the outside valves of the L reeds and on the inside valves of the M reeds. Fixing sagging valves for the L reeds is easy. The valves for the M reeds cannot be fixed without either removing the reed plate or the valves (which is a delicate job with tweezers).

 

[nagant27]

The non chambered leathers are sideways when In playing position so won’t really sag that way. I’ve seen many older accordions where the cassotto leathers are just hanging down from improper storage over time. It happens.

 

[JIM D.]

When a Cassotto accordion is stored in playing position the orientation of ALL THE VALVES are the same.

 

[Tom]

I tend to alternate between my 72 and 120 bass, leaving one out ready to play (on its feet) and the other in its case (on its feet). Neither has cassotto. My organetto lives in its case on its feet, my corona 2 doesn't have a case and the old accordions are around somewhere, probably on their feet.

 

[losthobos]

I keep mine locked in the medicine cabinet....

 

[Gonk]

Glenn, they're just the same as those in a non-cassotto instrument. So when you store it on its side, all the reeds are relatively safe.

Unless you have one of these:

https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--bTDRv93S--/f_auto,t_large/v1550286677/xl3ffo4otl8fyk7hgibl.jpg

 

[Eric Stern]

I keep one out on display, one in a case by the piano, one in a case in my studio, and six stashed around the house in obscure places where my wife would never think to look.

 

[JerryPH]

In the temperture/humidity controlled basement I have a couch where the Elkavox, Imperator and Morino sit in upright playing position covered with a large soft cotton towel and plastic cover. Other accordions sit on end tables covered in towels and plastic covers. I have a couple of non-cassotto accordions that I "care" less about and they are in cases covered in soft towels stored in the proper position.

I've *really* wanted to make a big case to display them all, in the proper position, protected behind glass, and one day I will do this, but that's a very big project and is on a back-burner for the time being... so many other things to do!

 

[hais1273]

Sometime ago I built a shelf unit out of 12mm hardwood ply, the unit is approx 1500mm wide, 1200mm tall and 450mm deep. There are 4 shelves, we keep sheet music and assorted paraphenalia on the bottom, My PA's on the level above and Helen has her assorted diato's on the shelf above that, bits'n'bobs live on the top shelf, including a small TV. 3mm ply sheet at the back stops stuff falling down the back and adds rigidity, I used a half slot joint to locate the shelves on the uprights. Annoyingly, the unit wasn't as stable as I had hoped, I cured the slight wobble with right angle molding and small internal bracing on the top and bottom shelves. Job done.
The unit is sturdy and the instruments can sit on their feet, out of way of the dogs, hoover and as we discovered this morning, the damn mice!

 

[Corinto]

and six stashed around the house in obscure places where my wife would never think to look.

That's a place I could definitely use here also, if only available in our little home ...

 

[oldbayan]

The leather valves indeed do suffer from being stored in the "wrong" position but many recent accordions use vinyl valves and these do not suffer as much from gravity.

 

[Hilobox]

Thanks a lot Jim! Often I find that I'm the only one advocating this storage procedure and people are just in disbelief, in part because in an accordion store all instruments on display are placed on their feet. Even storekeepers have disagreed with me. Even the Victoria factory disagreed, but in their defence they used to place (metal) boosters on all the leather valves, and then it is not much of an issue. At some point for a short while they tried the now more common leather + plastic boosters which are more efficient to install (no messing around with glue for boosters and the paper or leather dots) but they quickly abandoned these, as the plastic boosters lose their strength over time. (The picture I showed was from a Victoria form that time period.)
It is normal for people with cassotto instruments to not notice the problem. In order to do so you need to 1) listen to what your instrument does when you play and 2) not think that the delay and plop sounds are "normal for accordions". Most people do not do either if these 2 things. They also typically think that a slight tremolo in the LM, MH or LH registers is normal, and when they hear that a few notes are out of tune it really means that at best a few notes are still in tune and all other notes are out of tune...
So folks, please keep in mind that when *you* do not believe your accordion has a problem it does not mean that it has no problem. No accordion can defy the laws of physics (gravity and material strength in this case).

I have a marginally related question on storage, which is on display vs in cases. All my 4 accordions are in the same guest room. It is upstairs with a small awning window facing the sea which is always open. We are a couple of miles from the ocean. Unlike Utah where we used to live, we have virtually no dust and temperatures are within a few degrees day and night. Humidity is usually about 80%. I love looking at these instruments. None are casotto. Will being on display be bad for them? Mahalo, Richard

 

[Zevy]

Paul has correctly posted THE PROPER WAY to store Cassotto and Non Cassotto accordions. Reading this post I find some
answers of a doubtful nature. I learned the proper handling & storing of accordions more than a half century ago and
teach it to customers that for some reason are not aware of or not taught proper accordion strorage.
Improper storage WILL IN TIME affect the accordion valves to curl and not close properly. I find at lest 2 out of 10 Cassotto
accordions I take in have curled tone chamber valves because of improper storage. These misaligned valves take time to
show up but WILL in time curl and require replacement or repair. There are really only 2 basic & proper methods for
storage.
(1) Non Cassotto types should be stored on it's feet. Although storing it in an upright position will not harm it.
(2) Cassotto type accordions MUST BE stored in a playing position as not is just an accident waiting to happen.

For many years when purchasing a new Pro or Semi-Pro accordion the case was equipped with 2 handles and feet
on the bottom & side. The top handle for carry & the side handle for storage.
I build custom accordion cases and ALL are equipped with top handles & bottom feet also side handles & side
feet. 90% have wheels installed.

Now this only applies to acoustic accordions as the "V" types can be stored in any fashion you desire.

I can attest to the fact that Jim D attached “feet” to my accordion case. Now I always keep it (it is a Petosa tone chamber accordion) in the playing position.
Thanks again, Jim!

 

[debra]

I have a marginally related question on storage, which is on display vs in cases. All my 4 accordions are in the same guest room. It is upstairs with a small awning window facing the sea which is always open. We are a couple of miles from the ocean. Unlike Utah where we used to live, we have virtually no dust and temperatures are within a few degrees day and night. Humidity is usually about 80%. I love looking at these instruments. None are casotto. Will being on display be bad for them? Mahalo, Richard

What has been missed in this whole discussion thread so far, but you just mentioned another aspect of the "where" question:
Always keep an accordion as far away as possible from a corrosive environment like the sea!
I have had a few older generation Hohner Atlantic IV accordions in for repair/tuning. They are all roughly around 60 years old. Generally speaking the ones from my area (roughly 60-70km from the sea) were fine and one from an old avid player living at the coast had reeds that were rusted very badly (no longer salvageable).
So for your accordions keeping the window facing the sea always open is a very very bad idea!
In the room, for just storing the accordions, keeping them in their case (and in the playing position) is always the best, to keep dust out. On display and on their feet means dust keeps falling through the grille, eventually clogging up the keyboard mechanism.
If you like looking at the instruments, put a clear plastic cover over them.

 

[Dingo40]

So, to reiterate, just because it's called an Atlantic model doesn't make it waterproof!

 

[Zevy]

When a Cassotto accordion is stored in playing position the orientation of ALL THE VALVES are the same.

Jim - this got me thinking. Should I store my Sonola SS-4 - the model that has just two sets of reeds; all in the chamber - in the playing position?

 

[Hilobox]

What has been missed in this whole discussion thread so far, but you just mentioned another aspect of the "where" question:
Always keep an accordion as far away as possible from a corrosive environment like the sea!
I have had a few older generation Hohner Atlantic IV accordions in for repair/tuning. They are all roughly around 60 years old. Generally speaking the ones from my area (roughly 60-70km from the sea) were fine and one from an old avid player living at the coast had reeds that were rusted very badly (no longer salvageable).
So for your accordions keeping the window facing the sea always open is a very very bad idea!
In the room, for just storing the accordions, keeping them in their case (and in the playing position) is always the best, to keep dust out. On display and on their feet means dust keeps falling through the grille, eventually clogging up the keyboard mechanism.
If you like looking at the instruments, put a clear plastic cover over them.

Thank you, will do. And I put three inside a closet as well. We are up on the side of Mauna Loa, with the ocean visible but no hint of salt smell. But rain is another issue…when it blows in, curtain rods rust as you’re watching them. Nevertheless, I will be more cautious with the accordions. In the cases until expecting company, then on display to show off. On the other hand, my 1958 mahogany Martin ukulele, with brass frets, and kept in a hard case in a closet, has faired well . Aloha nui loa a oe.

 

[Hilobox]

So, to reiterate, just because it's called an Atlantic model doesn't make it waterproof!

This does not apply. We are in the middle of the Pacific.

 

[Hilobox]

Thank you, will do. And I put three inside a closet as well. We are up on the side of Mauna Loa, with the ocean visible but no hint of salt smell. But rain is another issue…when it blows in, curtain rods rust as you’re watching them. Nevertheless, I will be more cautious with the accordions. In the cases until expecting company, then on display to show off. On the other hand, my 1958 mahogany Martin ukulele, with brass frets, and kept in a hard case in a closet, has faired well . Aloha nui loa a oe.

All others in a closet, Paul, this one out for display:

 

[Johnny]

Mine's all dressed up, with nowhere to go ... but practice, I guess