Squeezebox Of Delights
Active member
So yesterday I went to a car boot sale, mainly to do some birthday shopping. It wasn't a great one; usually there's a good selection of stuff, but this time it wasn't that inspiring. However, I did come across this rather bonkers C system accordion, a late 20s/early 30s style three voice Paolo Rogledi. I ummed and ahhed about it a bit, but after a brief inspection and a bit of a play around, I purchased it for the grand total of £60.
Admittedly I wouldn't usually pay that much for a knackered old box at a car boot, but I taken in by the glittery rainbow celluloid with the pearloid inlay, and the nickel plated keyboards with pearl buttons. Plus, despite the classic old accordion problems - curled up valves, uneven buttons, leaky gaskets and tuning issues - it seemed pretty playable.
When I got it home I had a good look inside. I managed to loosen up the seized coupler mechanism, and tightened up some wobbly reed blocks. As I suspected, most of the valves were curled up and useless, but the reeds are pinned onto leather so at least I don't need to worry about wax! The bass goes down to a wonderfully rumbly F, but because the valves are all so bad the lowest bass notes don't play. Looking inside also revealed a number of pencilled numbers and initials, including several "180"s, which I take to be the serial number, and one "1931" which I can only assume is the year of production. I roughed up the gaskets a bit and screwed it all back together, and while far from perfect it's definitely a lot better than when I bought it!
The problem? I play piano accordion and melodeon. Not CBA. So I guess I'm just going to have to learn!
Admittedly I wouldn't usually pay that much for a knackered old box at a car boot, but I taken in by the glittery rainbow celluloid with the pearloid inlay, and the nickel plated keyboards with pearl buttons. Plus, despite the classic old accordion problems - curled up valves, uneven buttons, leaky gaskets and tuning issues - it seemed pretty playable.
When I got it home I had a good look inside. I managed to loosen up the seized coupler mechanism, and tightened up some wobbly reed blocks. As I suspected, most of the valves were curled up and useless, but the reeds are pinned onto leather so at least I don't need to worry about wax! The bass goes down to a wonderfully rumbly F, but because the valves are all so bad the lowest bass notes don't play. Looking inside also revealed a number of pencilled numbers and initials, including several "180"s, which I take to be the serial number, and one "1931" which I can only assume is the year of production. I roughed up the gaskets a bit and screwed it all back together, and while far from perfect it's definitely a lot better than when I bought it!
The problem? I play piano accordion and melodeon. Not CBA. So I guess I'm just going to have to learn!
