Where can I find a Button Accordion?

Subject: Where can I find a Button Accordian?
From: browny
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 03:32 PM

Our problem starts with a Very Irish Irish Mother who once upon a time played an accordion. So, for a recent Birthday so us kids [read 35 to 47] all 8 I did say Irish earlier, decided to buy a piano accordion for said Birthday. Hurray we found one. Enter the problem Mum is 82 and and finds the said accordion is too heavy for those delicate knees.

The solution we have found is a button accordion but locating one arond melbourne presents a bit of a quandry. any suggestions polite or otherwise would be greatly accepted. Browny See I am getting better on this thing called a computer. thanks.

Subject: RE: Help: Where can I find a Button Accordian?
From: Lucius
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 03:36 PM

Try www.buttonbox.com. They are great people, sell quality boxes, and they ship worldwide.

Lucius

Subject: RE: Help: Where can I find a Button Accordian?
From: Matticus
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 03:51 PM

Browny- Drop an email to Deborah Brower at this address: [e-mail] She is in the button accordion business. I'll let her explain. -Matt

Subject: RE: Help: Where can I find a Button Accordian?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 03:57 PM

One point here browny, the button accordions and the piano accordions are very different instruments to play - perhaps a lighter (assuming that is possible) piano accordion would be more suitable.

Jon

Subject: RE: Help: Where can I find a Button Accordian?
From: Rana who SHOULD be working
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 04:27 PM

Hi Browny,

Found a couple of sites you may want to look at

http://www.accordions.com/index/his/his_au.shtml

is a history of accordions in Australia. Peter Hyde is mentioned as the first Australian maker and sells accordions. There is an interview with him at:

www.accordions.com/interviews/hyde.shtml

"australia accordion" came up with other hits using Google

Rana

Subject: RE: Help: Where can I find a Button Accordian?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 05:15 PM

Or you click on Hobgoblin - they've got a great catalogue, online or on apaperand are very helpful, and they ship worldwide.

One thing - and you probably don't need telling thsi - make sure it's the right system accordion, because yo wouldn't want to go to all the trouble and find it wasn't right.

And when you've got it, get her on tape! Happy Birthday from all on the Mudcat I'm sure.

Subject: RE: Help: Where can I find a Button Accordian?
From:
Date: 07 Jun 00 - 11:54 PM

Here is an Australian site that is dedicated to free reed instruments. It has lots of links to sellers and descriptions. http://shift.merriweb.com.au/harmonium/types.html.

Murray

Subject: RE: Help: Where can I find a Button Accordian?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 12:15 AM

G'day browny,

I don't know the Melbourne scene too well for accordions, so i don't know if there is anyone dealing in folk type instruments. In Sydney we have Malcolm Clapp (not yet quite onto email and web, but creeping that way) he lives at 8 Sandra St, Wood Park, and his 'phone number is [phone]. He picks up accordions as he works at music and rebuilds them to playable standard ... at pretty good prices.

On the more commercial end, we have Christiaan Dolislager's Accordions 'n Folk Shop at 426 Parramatta Rd, Petersham, 2049. 'Phone: [phone] (Shop), 9436 0235 (fax), 014 426 580 (mobile)and [e-mail] (email. There is also a web site at http://www.ibf.com/accfolk/. He also buys, repairs and resells instruments.

As suggested above, it might be best to go for a smaller piano accordion, if that is what your mother has played in the past. They are (or were) made in sizes as small as the medium size button accordions. I have even seen an old Hohner in the same box as the "Pokerwork" model, commonly seen around folk circles.

I would ring Malcolm as a first choice and discuss your needs. He has range of instruments that I would trust to perform as well as something he has repared for his own professional use. If you want to chase things around here, get back to me, but there should be people doing the same in Melbourne.

Peter Hyde's stuff is very pretty - and works very well, but you are going to pay craftsman prices for new, custom-made instruments ... several thousand dollars for a good one. Malcolm should have good refurbished models from about a tenth of that.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Help: Where can I find a Button Accordian?
From: browny
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 06:25 AM

Once again I am amazed with the speed and willingness of the mudcatters out there. Thankyou very much.

It was interesting to see the way that the words to "The Mero" came about. thanks

Browny.

Subject: RE: Help: Where can I find a Button Accordian?
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 08 Jun 00 - 07:04 PM

Hi Browny, Bob's advice above as usual is very sound. If your Mum does play button accordion let me know and I'll gladly loan you a 2 row Hohner. I'll be in town in two weeks time. Regareds, John ([e-mail])