Strange Squeezebox...

Subject: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 07:25 PM

Hello all, after a long absence. I've been looking in from time to time, but stressful 'real life' has had to take precedence.

Does anyone know what this might describe? Someone has asked me to identify it - an accordion type instrument, but sounds unlike anything I've ever seen. (I've not seen ti.) Likely origin German.
Quote:
....in English it says: Trade Mark and has a picture of two 'anchors' with rope going thru them! It has the wooden buttons on one side that you hang on to which 'pull' the instrument open. Attached to the buttons on the same side are ...I don't know what to call them!!! When you push the button, these 'things' pop up! On the front or the rear are these metal, round, things!...(I think they are on the front...the rear is basically flat! Oh, and there are 10 buttons; only on one 'handle'!

I've asked her for photos...

Jo Taylor

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Gypsy
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 09:21 PM

Photos would be good. Can't wait to see them!

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Sorcha
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 09:43 PM

Photos would be VERY good.........

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 30 Dec 00 - 10:04 PM

G'day Jo Taylor,

The description is pretty vague, but it might be a, 1850s French Accordion or a Flautina/Flutina. These two designs were more or less offshoots of the German/Austrian Button Accordion design, meant to be played flat on the lap. They sometimes had "automatic" major chord accompaniment on the left side or simple control valves (not too different from simple melodions of basic button accordions).

I must admit that the 'fouled anchors' logo sounds more German than French (at least, I have seen variants on German instruments).

A picture would be worth a few thousand of these words!

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 06:29 PM

Thanks for the response. A further communication says that it has just one row of buttons. The only flutinas I've seen had a row of pearly keys (usually wobbly and some missing!). Were there other sorts, Bob? I meant to add that I don't yet know if it's diatonic or chromatic, I've asked the owner and she's going to send a photo, I'll put it on a web page when I get it...
Jo

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: bill\sables
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 06:47 PM

It could be an "Imperial Accordion" made in Germany. they used the two anchors logo. I have one I will look up.

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 01 Jan 01 - 07:05 PM

Thanks, Bill. Do you have a picture? Shall I PM you my email address? Back tomorrow, bedtime now.
Jo

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: bill\sables
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 12:50 PM

Jo, My son has gone of to the USA with the digital camera but as soon as he comes home (Jan 10) I will send a photo The box I have I got sometime in the 60s and played it then but it is now a wall hanger along with one or two other vintage instruments but it sounds like the one you describe.
Cheers Bill

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 06:38 PM

Thanks Bill. I haven't received a piccie of the one in question yet.
Jo

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 02 Jan 01 - 09:23 PM

G'day again Jo Taylor,

I just re-read the description in your first post and it could (with large allowances for translation difficulties) be a description of a fairly standard old single row button accordion ... such as "Kalbes Imperial" brand made in various sizes and shapes.

I have a number of catalogue drawings of such instruments, but I don't have a personal website to post them. There are some general drawings (both by me or lifts from old catalogues) on Australian Bush Music and Dance - Wongawilli Style (http://www.wongawillicolonialdance.org.au/), where you will find a link to my publication Australian Bush instruments.

If you come up with a picture of the instrument in question, I can make a far more informed guess. Oh, yes BTW: Flautinas usually did have pearly "keys", but it wasn't mandatory.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 09:44 PM

G'day again Jo,

I just looked at the Wongawilli site (which I hadn't looked at for a while). It took a bit of digging to find the Australian Traditional Bush Instruments article, so here is the link (I hope!):

Bush instruments

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 09:54 PM

G'day ...

Oh good! It worked (spelled: I didn't stuff up the html this time).

I should have said (were I not preoccupied with html), that the illustrations not particularly related to your mystery box. There is a sketch by me of a 1-row 'melodion' and a catalogue illustration of a 2-row 'Vienna style' ... and both are fairly small web-sized images. Anyway, the article should be of interest ... if not relevance.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: little john cameron
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 10:47 PM

Flautina.
http://www.netinstruments.com/picture/?p=18634.jpg

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: CarolC
Date: 03 Jan 01 - 11:41 PM

little john cameron... if you keep this up, I may have to ensconce you on the same pedestal upon which Malcolm Douglas now stands. (But you'd have to share.)

Carol

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: wes.w
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 08:35 AM

Might I suggest you also take a browse around at

http://www.horniman.demon.co.uk/free_reed_index.html

for lots of pictures of squeeze boxes.

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Bernard
Date: 04 Jan 01 - 01:06 PM

Mmmm...

It does sound a little like a 'spoon bass' single row melodeon, dunnit?!

I'm all of a quiver waiting to find out...!

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 07:06 PM

Thanks for the continued info - still haven't received a picture though...Like the site, Bob.

Cheers,

Jo

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From: little john cameron
Date: 05 Jan 01 - 07:20 PM

Carol,dinnae dae that lassie,ah'm feart o hights!!! ljc

Subject: RE: Strange Squeezebox...
From:
Date: 04 Aug 04 - 10:03 AM

i ve just found something very similar made by mastertone in germany it has 19 buttons which operate 1 9 rectangular wooden keys and 5 spoon looking levers on the otherside it has 4 knobs which can be pushed in and out (2 MISSING) I WILL SEND PHOTO IF WANTED