Excelsior Concert Grand

[Tom]

Thanks Alan! So if Henry has the four rocker from 1936, mine must be close to the transition point to that style, about 350 numbers away. Just about brothers! Two palm switches, rustic.

 

[John Doe]

Dear 4468- A long time since we hit thestreets back in the Great Depression. As the older brother you were sort of responsible to ensure I didn't stray. Here with this lunatic I've fallen into some bad company...
Your brother, 4816

 

[JerryPH]

Thanks Alan! So if Henry has the four rocker from 1936, mine must be close to the transition point to that style, about 350 numbers away. Just about brothers! Two palm switches, rustic.

It's gorgeous!

 

[Tom]

Dear 4468- A long time since we hit thestreets back in the Great Depression. As the older brother you were sort of responsible to ensure I didn't stray. Here with this lunatic I've fallen into some bad company...
Your brother, 4816

Oh my long lost brother 4817,

You’re looking good! All you young uns out there with those new fangled rockers were ahead of your time. Who knew you would invent that new music style Rock(er) and Roll? While I was still jazzing it up in Cleveland with Ronnie Moon. Well, look what you’ve done to us? I don’t hold it against you because I’m in “Revival!”. At least you have a skilled master, even if he is kind of a lunatic (as you say). I’m suffering from air loss, a little torn celluloid and sticky shifters. I gotta get this goombah here back to the repair table! Maybe make a video.

Don’t despair dear 4817, you’re among many friends there but I do miss you and hope to see you some day.

Your brother and partner in squeeze, 4468

 

[Tom]

It's gorgeous!

Thanks Jerry! Needs work, but has potential and a good story. Owned and played by some of Cleveland’s best players and teachers before moving to Chicago and eventually Wisconsin. Probably won’t be till after Christmas till I open it up for a good cleaning.

 

[JerryPH]

Thanks Jerry! Needs work, but has potential and a good story. Owned and played by some of Cleveland’s best players and teachers before moving to Chicago and eventually Wisconsin. Probably won’t be till after Christmas till I open it up for a good cleaning.

I don't know anyone that buys an accordion unless it has some kind of attachment to it... what drew you to this one, was it it's history or something else?

 

[Tom]

I don't know anyone that buys an accordion unless it has some kind of attachment to it... what drew you to this one, was it it's history or something else?

I was trying to help out a talented friend who suffered some bad health issues. Of course, I am a sucker for a repairable top of the line almost 90 years old vintage accordion! That the history is known is a bonus…..

 

[Alan Polivka]

When the body has cracked, as in this case, the usual repair is to glue it (with wood glue) and clamp it while the glue dries. That usually solves the problem quite well. Just be sure that the entire crack has glue in it. When doing this sort of repair, I usually make a flat blade out of very thin metal (from a soda can or sardine can lid) to shove the glue up into the crack. Make sure the box aligns well with the bellows frame while the glue is drying under the clamp ... otherwise, you might not be able to fit the bellows to the accordion afterward. For this reason, you should probably have the bellows assembled to the accordion while the glue is drying. In that case, be sure none of the glue can seep to the bellows frame, which would permanently attach the bellows to the accordion. Putting some waxed paper between the bellows and the accordion at that location while the glue is drying can avoid this problem. If you do that, the screws should be unnecessary.

With all of that said, however, if it is working fine and not leaking air, I'd tend to leave it as is.

 

[Alan Polivka]

Dear 4468- A long time since we hit thestreets back in the Great Depression. As the older brother you were sort of responsible to ensure I didn't stray. Here with this lunatic I've fallen into some bad company...
Your brother, 4816

I see that brother 4816 has a much younger, 1950 Symphony Grand relative in the background.

 

[John M]

I was trying to help out a talented friend who suffered some bad health issues. Of course, I am a sucker for a repairable top of the line almost 90 years old vintage accordion! That the history is known is a bonus…..

Way to go Tom!