I have been trying to find this information for myself lately, when I found this thread.

Regarding the photo, it is likely that the instrument the seventh fellow is holding is some sort of accordion, but it certainly was not made by Hohner. Hohner did not start making melodeons or accordions (as they were called) until 1903. And even then, they did not look like most of today's melodeons. They looked like what is often called a Cajun accordion -- even the 2 row models. I would upload and attach some photos, but this forum interface has no options for that.

If that photo is from the Civil War era, then what the seventh fellow has under is arm might be more likely closer to what is now often called a flutina. But, I can't be sure, because it seems difficult to find much information about 19th century melodeons/Diatonic Button accordions (DBAs).

Meanwhile, back on the original topic: One reason that I switched from Concertina to melodeon is because I heard the claim that the melodeon was more often played by sailors than the concertina. But, I have not found ANY evidence to support that.

In the "Music of the Sea" book by David Proctor, there is only 1 photo showing a melodeon/DBA, and the photo is from about 1912. The book does have a photo of a concertina, but not any pictures of sailors playing any. You can find photos on the web of sailors or captains with their concertinas, though.

A number of people have researched the history of the concertina rather well, and presented their research nicely, but I have yet to find comparable research presented on the melodeon/diatonic button accordion (DBA). There is also plenty of information on the piano accordion too. So, if anyone has found any more information about melodeons/DBAs played by sailors latley, that would be great.

I am also interested ANY information about melodeons/DBAs in the USA before 1915 and who played them. I have an old one that plays in E-flat, and another in B-flat and E-flat and I'd like to know what kind of music was played on these.

Thanks.