Frontalini accordian

[Mal]

My parents (in their 90s) just moved from the farmhouse they have lived in since 1955. My grandfather lived in the house before then. In cleaning out the cupboards we found a Frontalini accordion. We are trying to decide what to do with it (eg keep as a family heirloom, repair it, sell it as is, donate to the local museum etc). I've discovered a bit about Frontalini the company and Maxim's (the current owner) advised "The accordion dates back to the golden age of the Frontalini brand, so in the years 1950/1960." They suggested a value of around 300/400€ but I assume they meant in working order and in Europe (I'm in Australia). The bellows seem to be okay but haven't looked at it any further than that.

We (my family) don't know anything about accordions. I've been trying to find out a bit more about this instrument to help our family make a decision. I can only find one other similar style Frontalini button accordion on Google (in the UK). Our accordion has two rows of 21 & 8 buttons and the number "13/157" next to the "Made in Italy" mark.

Is this accordion of a particular style/type?

Any advice on what to do with it. For example is it worth the effort to restore or would that be too difficult. Is it valuable/worth trying to sell or does it really just have the family heirloom value?

 

[Dingo40]

Mal,
It looks to me you have a "two row melodeon", something like this,
see here:

eight bass two row 22 button accordions frontalini youtube - Google Search

They're asking $599 for this one, but it's in good playing condition and would come with a guarantee of some months or more.
I understand these are much beloved by folk musicians (Irish, Scots, Bretons and the Celts of northern Spain. They appear to have regular jamborees of two row accordionists with a thousand or more players playing simultaneously well known popular Celtic tunes (Google Two row Melodeon or Celtic accordion music). You should get plenty of hits!
You'll get more particular information on melodeon.net Forums as it's their kind of thing!
Here's something similar on Gumtree:

Free local classified ads

Find Other Musical Instruments ads in Canadian 3350, VIC. Buy and sell almost anything on Gumtree classifieds.

www.gumtree.com.au

 

[Mal]

Thanks. That's very useful information.