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Any opinion on "not practising" on your favorite accordion to "save" it

Maybe this is an indication of the quality of reeds made then vs. now.
More like an indication of the quality of steel available then vs now. There is no such thing as "Swedish Steel" as a quality origin designation any more.
 
More like an indication of the quality of steel available then vs now. There is no such thing as "Swedish Steel" as a quality origin designation any more.
Yes, steel quality is indeed what I'd think is a big factor. That, and the quality (or lack thereof) of tuning. i.e., I've seen reeds with significant weak spots introduced by inept persons having done the tuning. And, I've also seen some reeds broken due to rust.
 
Yes, steel quality is indeed what I'd think is a big factor. That, and the quality (or lack thereof) of tuning. i.e., I've seen reeds with significant weak spots introduced by inept persons having done the tuning. And, I've also seen some reeds broken due to rust.
Steel quality is so much an issue that I heard of a Russian concert player who had a reed break during a concert and he introduced a 10 minute break during which he removed the broken reed tongue (from the large multi-reed plate), replaced it by a new one, tuned the reed and put everything back together to continue the concert. Not only does this indicate his technical skills (not many European concert players know how to repair accordions, and even fewer can do it quickly during a break in a concert) but it indicates that he brought all necessary tools and materials because a reed breaking is something that occurred often enough to go to this trouble.
 
Swedish Steel was at one time kind of a benchmark = quality

even here in the USA where we had world class steelmills, rolling mills,
engineers right here along my riverfront in Pittsburgh, we saw daily
adverts on Television for WilkinsonSword Swedish Steel razor blades.. thinner
and more flexible than any other (as per the advert claim) and yes
Faithe speifically touted her exclusive contract with a Swedish Steel
provider for eventual use in her accordions

and you may recall my mention of experience as a visitor to Cyclops
Steel rolling mill in Bridgeville Pa. and a friend who worked in that amazing
place (from whence those King Gilette razor blades came) and many
rolls of blued steel in all sizes and guages that went all over the world..

my fascination with Spring Steel in part from youthful attempts
to repair Wound Victrola record players and a fascination with
my Aunt MiMi's wedding clock (under glass and protected from
my fingers) and NaNa Keckich's mantle clock which she taught
me to carefuly wind for her and lubricate (the linseed oil rag)
 
Almost all nice Hohner accordions have been made in Italy (since the late fifties).
Late sixties maybe? I am asking because my instrument, according to Hohner serial number records, has been delivered in 1960, and its special construction mimicking an earlier one-off Morino special construction makes it rather likely that it has been built by some manufacturing team that routinely had extensive input from Morino himself at one point of time (and this was not the age of video conferencing). That makes me think that at least Morino Artiste production would not have been shut down in Trossingen until after Morino's demise, and unlike Gola, Morino did not move back to Italy in retirement. Morino retired some time in the fifties and passed away in 1961.
 
The best way to "save" your favorite accordion is to play it a bit softer than you would in the fortissimo parts at a performance. Also place a soft fabric over your legs to "save" the bellows tape there, and if you don't already have it, install a bellows protector.
To get the most out of your playing it is best to practice on the instrument you perform with. Every accordion is different, for instance in the position of registers, in air consumption, in which register sounds best for which parts of the music, etc.
I have never felt guilty practicing on my Bugari Armando Artist Cassotto (back when that was my main instrument). Practicing is also the most enjoyable when you do it on your favorite instrument.
What is a bellows protector?
 
Hi Jensen

As a picture paints a 1.000 words - here's one:
IMG_9418.jpeg
A padded cushion typically fixed by push buttons to protect the bellow getting scratched by e.g. knobs of your shirt.
 
Hi Jensen

As a picture paints a 1.000 words - here's one:
IMG_9418.jpeg
A padded cushion typically fixed by push buttons to protect the bellow getting scratched by e.g. knobs of your shirt.
It also protects the bellows from absorbing sweat, which can lead to eventual collapse of the bellows. Some accordionists don't sweat much while playing but others do. I've had to replace some folds in bellows due to that cause.
 
22/7 registers??!! I have register envy! ;-)

Very nice playing, by the way!
I got 168 bass registers. I tried making an overview using not too many pages. Probably not causing too much register envy, just like few people say "I would not be able to live off a mere half of Bill Gates' means".
 

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What a wonderful idea ,I don't wear my favourite socks or sleep in my favourite bed
and I watch the portable to save the flat screen.
Its slightly more difficult with perishables so i,m forced to eat my favourite filet mignon within date
But everything else I,m saving for the the rapture:LOL:
 
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