Hohner Piano Accordion: Info Request

Subject: Hohner Piano Accordion: Info Request
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 18 Mar 17 - 10:22 AM

Hi,

I volunteer in a charity shop, and we have recently had a Hohner Piano Accordion donated. As far as I can see, it has no model name written on it. It's a 120 Bass/41 Key model and given that the case contained various instruction pamplets from the late '30s, I assume it's from that era.

I've posted a couple of picures of it here

Apart from having one Bass button missing, it seems in pretty decent condition with all the keys working and the bellows appear in good order.

Can anyone identify the model and/or advise me as to what sort of price we should ask for it? Grateful for any thoughts.

Thanks,

Ed

Subject: RE: Hohner Piano Accordion: Info Request
From: GUEST,SqueezeMe
Date: 19 Mar 17 - 10:27 AM

Not a model that's much in demand by collectors or players. Usually accordions of this age (1920s? by the look of the keyboard ends), unless regularly and recently serviced and in outstanding condition, need many hundreds of dollars to make them into acceptable playing instruments. If neglected, leather valves will harden, felt will be eaten or overly compressed, reeds may corrode, wax seals may crack etc. etc. The cost of remedial work is often far in excess of the market value of the overhauled instrument

If you can get $100 or so, you would probably be doing well. A repairer might buy it for spares, or an artistic type may purchase it as a decorative feature, but otherwise, not much interest I would imagine.

Please don't suggest that "it would do for a beginner". Nothing is more certain than an instrument of this type, vintage and likely condition putting a learner off accordions (and possibly music generally) for life.

One man's opinion. A bit sad for the Charity shop concerned though.

Good luck in finding a buyer.

Subject: RE: Hohner Piano Accordion: Info Request
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 19 Mar 17 - 03:42 PM

I know very little about piano accordions but I do know someone who played one of those beasts, or a similar Hohner model, in the sixties or seventies. My instincts tell me that SqueezeMe is right. They could be a nightmare to repair and maintain in an era in which more modern methods and materials are used. Just another man's even more shaky opinion!

(Ducks..)

Subject: RE: Hohner Piano Accordion: Info Request
From: Jack Campin
Date: 19 Mar 17 - 04:36 PM

The most likely buyer would be an accordion repairer looking for parts. And there aren't a lot of accordion repairers left.

Subject: RE: Hohner Piano Accordion: Info Request
From: GUEST,SqueezeMe
Date: 19 Mar 17 - 07:46 PM

...and an awful lot of old piano accordions to choose from, Jack.

MC (retired accordion repairer)