Continental AC

[Verismo]

Good morning. I have an Excelsior Continental AC Artist Model 10 treble shifts, 3 bass shifts and 4/5 reeds, with tone modulator (with separate volume control) and Tone Chamber. It has a Terlinde pickup --with a luggage case. Serial number 171 (tone modulator patent # 2700915) and weighs 26.2 pounds. The instrument is in mint condition and plays beautifully. It is Jet black and I love to play it. How could I find an accurate appraisal of its value? How can I find out the year it was made? Thank you.

 

[JerryPH]

There are a ton of traits that will define the value of any accordion, but one way is to look around at what others sold for. Liberty Bellows sold a few in the $2500US range and those are usually in great shape as they spend time prepping them before selling.
Now, NO OFFENCE to anyone, but “plays great” is no guarantee that inside everything is in perfect condition. I recently had an accordion sent in to a professional for a couple valves and some minor spot tuning… and low and behold, it was 140 valves, a pair of bellows gaskets and touching up of 20 on the right hand, 5 notes on the left, and a rewaxing on 2 of the 5 pallets, so a pro may have a different opinion of the true condition of any given accordion, and I thought she sounded great too.

 

[Verismo]

There are a ton of traits that will define the value of any accordion, but one way is to look around at what others sold for. Liberty Bellows sold a few in the $2500US range and those are usually in great shape as they spend time prepping them before selling.
Now, NO OFFENCE to anyone, but “plays great” is no guarantee that inside everything is in perfect condition. I recently had an accordion sent in to a professional for a couple valves and some minor spot tuning… and low and behold, it was 140 valves, a pair of bellows gaskets and touching up of 20 on the right hand, 5 notes on the left, and a rewaxing on 2 of the 5 pallets, so a pro may have a different opinion of the true condition of any given accordion, and I thought she sounded great too. Hi Jerry- I am most interested in learning the accuracy of the date in which this was biult. The serial # is 171 and the luggage case is very unique (I have not seen this kind of case before.) I am wondering if this is a New York Excelsior from the 60s or 70s.The case includes a felt cleaning pad with the inscription Excelsior New York. Who should I contact to get this information?

 

[Verismo]

There are a ton of traits that will define the value of any accordion, but one way is to look around at what others sold for. Liberty Bellows sold a few in the $2500US range and those are usually in great shape as they spend time prepping them before selling.
Now, NO OFFENCE to anyone, but “plays great” is no guarantee that inside everything is in perfect condition. I recently had an accordion sent in to a professional for a couple valves and some minor spot tuning… and low and behold, it was 140 valves, a pair of bellows gaskets and touching up of 20 on the right hand, 5 notes on the left, and a rewaxing on 2 of the 5 pallets, so a pro may have a different opinion of the true condition of any given accordion, and I thought she sounded great too.

Hi Jerry- I am most interested in learning the accuracy of the date in which this was biult. The serial # is 171 and the luggage case is very unique (I have not seen this kind of case before.) I am wondering if this is a New York Excelsior from the 60s or 70s.The case includes a felt cleaning pad with the inscription Excelsior New York. Who should I contact to get this information?

 

[dak]

The instrument is in mint condition and plays beautifully. It is Jet black and I love to play it. How could I find an accurate appraisal of its value?

Why if you love to play it? For insurance?

 

[Ventura]

yes.. i don't know about Europe, but here if your house burns down
or your stuff is stolen you are better off having values registered
or at least documented when going through the claims process,
as well as receipts, inventory lists, photographic evidence..

i would imagine Doris is insured for at least $1000

 

[Verismo]

yes.. i don't know about Europe, but here if your house burns down
or your stuff is stolen you are better off having values registered
or at least documented when going through the claims process,
as well as receipts, inventory lists, photographic evidence..

i would imagine Doris is insured for at least $1000

Hi! Doris is doing well. How can I get accurate info about when my Excelsior wade made? (For insurance.)
If it really is a New York model from the 60s or 70s, I believe I would have to insure it for more than $2,500.

 

[JerryPH]

This why I posted that number:

3705 - Black Excelsior Continental AC Piano Accordion LMMH 41 120

Type: Piano Accordion Reeds: 4/5 LMMH Treble: 41 Keys, 19.25(49cm) Key to Key, 10 Registers Bass: 120 Bass Buttons, 7 Registers Weight: 25lbs / 11.5kg Features: Microphones, Mute Switch, Palm Switch

www.libertybellows.com

https://reverb.com/item/66059073-excelsior-ac-continental-1950-s-black < earlier model but 1/2 the dollar value I mentioned
https://jimlaabsmusicstore.com/store/excelsior-ac-continental-120-bass-piano-accordion/ < someone told me they bought it for $2450

This 5-minute research kinda points to why I chose the $2500 range. Insurance value is way another thing. There is like a 95% chance that you won’t get any insurance to give you what your accordion is really worth because they will sooner get someone on the internet to find you a replacement for 1/2 value before giving you the money in the event of that loss.

I wish I had taken a pic of my broker’s face when I insured my Morino, and the explitive that came out of his mouth when I talked about the GOLA… LOL

 

[Verismo]

This why I posted that number:

3705 - Black Excelsior Continental AC Piano Accordion LMMH 41 120

Type: Piano Accordion Reeds: 4/5 LMMH Treble: 41 Keys, 19.25(49cm) Key to Key, 10 Registers Bass: 120 Bass Buttons, 7 Registers Weight: 25lbs / 11.5kg Features: Microphones, Mute Switch, Palm Switch

www.libertybellows.com

https://reverb.com/item/66059073-excelsior-ac-continental-1950-s-black < earlier model but 1/2 the dollar value I mentioned
https://jimlaabsmusicstore.com/store/excelsior-ac-continental-120-bass-piano-accordion/ < someone told me they bought it for $2450

This 5-minute research kinda points to why I chose the $2500 range. Insurance value is way another thing. There is like a 95% chance that you won’t get any insurance to give you what your accordion is really worth because they will sooner get someone on the internet to find you a replacement for 1/2 value before giving you the money in the event of that loss.

I wish I had taken a pic of my broker’s face when I insured my Morino, and the explitive that came out of his mouth when I talked about the GOLA… LOL

Thanks Jerry-the difference between the one you posted and mine is that mine only has three bass shifts-not six. Is there anyone I could contact to help me determine that this is, in fact a Continental AC Artist model (not Continental Grand) -- and with a serial number of 171--is there a site which give the year of construction and the date the instrument was made?

 

[Ventura]

i think someone here had a partial database, but other than that
it is hard to say without seeing it apart and looking for clues inside
(for me)
i dunno if writing to Pigini/Excelsior with the serial number would
get you a reply, though they would have the information.

generally it looks like an older/original model to me, but i wouldn't
know if it was made in Italy or New York, and for me that wouldn't
matter anyhow

do the reeds seem amazing for sensitivity and tone ?

as for value, to those who own one they are irre-placable
but the general market is so focused on Gola and super Vl and
fashion and fad i don't think the AC has as many potential buyers
as it once did.. in general Excelsior brand has lost much of it's cachet..

are you playing this one much ?

say hi to Doris for me !

 

[Verismo]

i think someone here had a partial database, but other than that
it is hard to say without seeing it apart and looking for clues inside
(for me)
i dunno if writing to Pigini/Excelsior with the serial number would
get you a reply, though they would have the information.

generally it looks like an older/original model to me, but i wouldn't
know if it was made in Italy or New York, and for me that wouldn't
matter anyhow

do the reeds seem amazing for sensitivity and tone ?

as for value, to those who own one they are irre-placable
but the general market is so focused on Gola and super Vl and
fashion and fad i don't think the AC has as many potential buyers
as it once did.. in general Excelsior brand has lost much of it's cachet..

are you playing this one much ?

say hi to Doris for me !

Thanks so much Ventura. YES-the reeds are really amazing. I also have a Titano Continental Musette and love it, but the Excelsior redds are truly superior to my Titano. I do practice every morning and play four-five gigs per month using mainly my Titano (and Doris for small venues. By the way, the basses on Doris are amazing...I see on a UK website that NEW Continental being sold for 9,000 to 12,000 euros. (The Continental Symphony Golds is one of those at about 12,000 euros. Holy Cow! In any case, I am indeed most fortunate that fate found a way to deliver my Excelsior to me. Take good care and regards to Steve N. if he is still active on the forum.

 

[Ventura]

ahh that is the karma, that we do our best and somehow as
a reward fate or fortune or even Jesus sends something our
way and for a fraction of what most people seem to pay for them..

this is why i often say that we are not the owners, but merely the
caretakers, and SOMEDAY when it is time for us to pass that karma
along, it is also our duty in a way to make an effort to find the right place,
the right person, to be the next caretaker of the gift.

 

[Tom]

ahh that is the karma, that we do our best and somehow as
a reward fate or fortune or even Jesus sends something our
way and for a fraction of what most people seem to pay for them..

this is why i often say that we are not the owners, but merely the
caretakers, and SOMEDAY when it is time for us to pass that karma
along, it is also our duty in a way to make an effort to find the right place,
the right person, to be the next caretaker of the gift.

So true. In true Ventura fashion I would love to have the right person show up at my house to be given “Gloria”. I don’t want to pack up and ship an accordion though. It’s a conundrum wrapped in an enigma.

 

[Verismo]

ahh that is the karma, that we do our best and somehow as
a reward fate or fortune or even Jesus sends something our
way and for a fraction of what most people seem to pay for them..

this is why i often say that we are not the owners, but merely the
caretakers, and SOMEDAY when it is time for us to pass that karma
along, it is also our duty in a way to make an effort to find the right place,
the right person, to be the next caretaker of the gift.

Thank you so much. I agree. Here is a link to the UK website. I indeed believe in what you have said. Stay warm today and best regards.

Excelsior AC Continental 120 Bass Accordion - The Accordion Shop

Excelsior AC Continental 120 Bass Accordion

theaccordionshop.co.uk

 

[dak]

ahh that is the karma, that we do our best and somehow as
a reward fate or fortune or even Jesus sends something our
way and for a fraction of what most people seem to pay for them..

this is why i often say that we are not the owners, but merely the
caretakers, and SOMEDAY when it is time for us to pass that karma
along, it is also our duty in a way to make an effort to find the right place,
the right person, to be the next caretaker of the gift.

Don't give me a stomach ache. I have little doubt that my violin, looking like a violin and with a plausible yet reasonably impressive date vignette inside, will end up somewhere sensible. My main accordion, in contrast, looks like a weirdo and was sitting unsold in an accordion shop for 15 years before I got it as a cheap sell-off, essentially thinking that I could not go much wrong at the price. I hope it will not end up in a trash compactor.

I mean, I took it to a Hohner fair once where they offered basic appraisals and certificate for Hohner accordions, and the Hohner "specialist" took less than a minute to tear at a register lever he could not identify with such brute force that he bent the internals of the accordion out of place. I ended the appraisal right then and there (this had killed my desire for a certificate from this bozo who probably was sent abroad since nobody at Hohner would have wanted to have him handle accordions under warranty). I later went on a phone session with a good mechanic and under his instructions chased the bent part back into form (bending it back would have further weakened it).

So if the first impulse of a Hohner technician is to destroy the instrument, this does not bode well for what others may end up doing with it.

 

[Verismo]

Don't give me a stomach ache. I have little doubt that my violin, looking like a violin and with a plausible yet reasonably impressive date vignette inside, will end up somewhere sensible. My main accordion, in contrast, looks like a weirdo and was sitting unsold in an accordion shop for 15 years before I got it as a cheap sell-off, essentially thinking that I could not go much wrong at the price. I hope it will not end up in a trash compactor.

I mean, I took it to a Hohner fair once where they offered basic appraisals and certificate for Hohner accordions, and the Hohner "specialist" took less than a minute to tear at a register lever he could not identify with such brute force that he bent the internals of the accordion out of place. I ended the appraisal right then and there (this had killed my desire for a certificate from this bozo who probably was sent abroad since nobody at Hohner would have wanted to have him handle accordions under warranty). I later went on a phone session with a good mechanic and under his instructions chased the bent part back into form (bending it back would have further weakened it).

So if the first impulse of a Hohner technician is to destroy the instrument, this does not bode well for what others may end up doing with it.

Ouch...I am sorry this happened to your and your Hohner. But it is now in good hands and I hope it brings you happiness when you play it.

 

[dak]

Ouch...I am sorry this happened to your and your Hohner. But it is now in good hands and I hope it brings you happiness when you play it.

Well, I was interested to know how an "appraisal" of a historic and technical marvel, a special construction by Morino would end up. I think the bulk of the reeds are a mano and the bass reeds are leather-mounted instead of waxed, but that's sort of a side show compared to the construction. I'll readily admit that I wasn't prepared for that particular outcome. A friend of mine guessed it may have been a pretext for the "free offer" of fixing the damage done by the technician in order to declare the instrument dead and unfixable in Trossingen and offer me some new "replacement", but since I adamantly refused handing my instrument into the "care" of Hohner after this demonstration of competence, I'll never know.

 

[Alan Polivka]

That looks like one of the original, pre-Pigini, ACs. It has the original, New York-style, Excelsior lettering on the front, not the big generic EXCELSIOR letters that I've seen on Pigini Excelsiors. Also, the mic volume and tone controls look like those from the original AC era. It should say on the accordion whether it was made in USA or Italy, does it not? Jim D (on this forum) seems to be the expert on the original ACs, so he could likely tell you more. Jim is the operator of "THE FISARMONICA SHOP" located in Chicopee, Ma, which might have a web site with contact info if you can't reach him through this forum. Assuming it is one of the original ACs and doesn't need a bunch of repairs, it's probably worth a couple thousand $.

 

[Verismo]

That looks like one of the original, pre-Pigini, ACs. It has the original, New York-style, Excelsior lettering on the front, not the big generic EXCELSIOR letters that I've seen on Pigini Excelsiors. Also, the mic volume and tone controls look like those from the original AC era. It should say on the accordion whether it was made in USA or Italy, does it not? Jim D (on this forum) seems to be the expert on the original ACs, so he could likely tell you more. Jim is the operator of "THE FISARMONICA SHOP" located in Chicopee, Ma, which might have a web site with contact info if you can't reach him through this forum. Assuming it is one of the original ACs and doesn't need a bunch of repairs, it's probably worth a couple thousand $.

Thanks Alan. I agree that this is, in fact, a pre-Pigini AC. I will look for Jum D at the Fisarmonica Shop. This is really an amazing instrument. I am truly grateful to own it.