Been given 2 accordions but know nothing about them

[Parzival]

Thank you so much for letting me join this forum came up in my research on 2 accordions that have been handed down to me.

If I am honest with you, I dont play and dont have a use for them, but would be very grateful for any information you could give me?

They have been in storage for a very long time and were quite dusty. I have given them a wipe and checked they make sounds, but thats about all I know.

Any info you can give is appreciated

 

[Dingo40]

Any info you can give is appreciated

Hi Parzival!
I'll begin:
Great pictures: thanks!
First: they are two different types of accordion, an eight bass diatonic button accordion (a Hohner "Club"), otherwise called a melodeon, and a chromatic (80 bass") piano accordion.
Diatonic means two different notes sound for the same button: one note for the pull and a another one for the push of the bellows.
You should be able to get much more information regarding your diatonic button accordion (melodeon) here:

melodeon net - Google Search

Chromatic means you get the same note for each key on both the pull and the push of the bellows.
Each of these accordion types requires a different playing technique and, generally, are used for playing different musical genres (folk, pops, traditional).
They are both quite old ( possibly the 1930/40s) but in excellent cosmetic condition.
Hohner and Galanti are both well regarded makes, especially the Galanti
Hohner still exists as a name.
The original maker called Galanti went out of business some decades ago.
Though In apparently excellent cosmetic condition, due to the effects of age, moisture and insect pests (moths) deterioration and rust on the materials (leather, wood, bees wax, felt and metal) the accordions are made of, at least some tuning and internal repairs are very likely to be needed.
I'm sure other members will contribute further details!
You could take them to your local accordion technician for a report on condition and an appraisal.
It sounds as if they are lacking their boxes ?
Very nice!

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

Whereabouts do you live? There's likely to be someone nearby who can inspect them and help you out. Though beautiful, the Galanti won't be worth much, maybe a few hundred pounds if it's been restored, but otherwise you're looking at £100 or less. Maybe up to £200 if it's not been restored but still works well! The melodeon on the other hand is probably worth a bit more. Unlike pre-war piano accordions, pre-war melodeons are still quite desirable and Hohner Club instruments are very well built and make excellent folk boxes. The Club Modell II that you have looks in decent cosmetic shape and if it's been "declubbed" then it could be worth £500 or more, particularly if it was done professionally and particularly particularly if it's been converted to D/G. The best way to tell if it is in original Club tuning is to see if one button on the treble side (the side with 25 buttons) plays the same note in both directions of the bellows. Original Club melodeons have that feature, but "declubbed" conversions don't. If you want to sell them, then eBay or Marketplace (or the buy and sell section forum) is probably the best place for the Galanti, while the Hohner should probably go to a melodeon specialist (Martyn White, Theo Gibb; whoever's closest to you) or advertise it on melodeon.net. If you don't want yo sell them then you should learn to play! There are plenty of people on both forums to help you, and it's very fun : )

 

[Parzival]

Hi Parzival!
I'll begin:
Great pictures: thanks!
First: they are two different types of accordion, an eight bass diatonic button accordion (a Hohner "Club"), otherwise called a melodeon, and a chromatic (80 bass") piano accordion.
Diatonic means two different notes sound for the same button: one note for the pull and a another one for the push of the bellows.
You should be able to get much more information regarding your diatonic button accordion (melodeon) here:

melodeon net - Google Search

Chromatic means you get the same note for each key on both the pull and the push of the bellows.
Each of these accordion types requires a different playing technique and, generally, are used for playing different musical genres (folk, pops, traditional).
They are both quite old ( possibly the 1930/40s) but in excellent cosmetic condition.
Hohner and Galanti are both well regarded makes, especially the Galanti
Hohner still exists as a name.
The original maker called Galanti went out of business some decades ago.
Though In apparently excellent cosmetic condition, due to the effects of age, moisture and insect pests (moths) deterioration and rust on the materials (leather, wood, bees wax, felt and metal) the accordions are made of, at least some tuning and internal repairs are very likely to be needed.
I'm sure other members will contribute further details!
You could take them to your local accordion technician for a report on condition and an appraisal.
It sounds as if they are lacking their boxes ?
Very nice!

Thanks so much for that, that is really helpful!

I have a cousin who is an accomplished accordion player and he is going to come have a look at them for me so can tell me a little more about the condition.

The Hohner has a case, which seems like a come made thing but is about as old as the accordion itself.

Also thank you @Squeezebox Of Delights !

I live in Wakefield (West Yorkshire). As I mentioned above my cousin is going to have a look at them condition-wise and give me his thoughts. I have a feeling they will need a lot of work as they have been sat for a very long time.

He should be able to tell me if they have been declubbed

I will try to get a video of him playing them and post it here.

 

[Parzival]

As promised I got my cousin to try them for me and he has said they are in great condition, reeds are good and they are in tune and not "musty".

If you're interested this is how they sound

Galanti:

New video by Darren McCabe

photos.app.goo.gl

Hohner (he does not play anything like this normally):

New video by Darren McCabe

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

They sound lovely! The Hohner sounds like it's in C/F, which is a very common tuning for those instruments. The Galanti looks like it's using a lot of air - maybe it's got structural leaks, or maybe it just needs the wax and valves replacing (almost definitely the latter). I know you say you don't have a use for them, but both look like they could be good instruments to learn on!

 

[Parzival]

They sound lovely! The Hohner sounds like it's in C/F, which is a very common tuning for those instruments. The Galanti looks like it's using a lot of air - maybe it's got structural leaks, or maybe it just needs the wax and valves replacing (almost definitely the latter). I know you say you don't have a use for them, but both look like they could be good instruments to learn on!

Yeah the Galanti has 2 metal pins missing which fix the bellows to the case, so air is escaping round the edge.

I am taking it to someone my cousin recommended to get it repaired.

Unfortunately I am tone deaf and not suited to playing an instrument. I have tried learning the accordion when I was younger as well as the guitar, ukulele and piano...none went well

Thank you all so much for your help