My Search for Information About My Accordion Has Led Me Here

[thatwyomingpony]

I recently acquired my grandfathers accordion before it was sold at an estate sale. The markings indicate it to be a Lesmann Accordion-Organ (or maybe AccordioOrgan). I know he got it shortly after his service in WWII. After some looking online, I found similar models being sold on Ebay. The sellers description pointed to a possible affiliation between Lesmann and the brand Morbidoni, as well as claims to his being from the early 1950s. The serial number he gave was much greater than mine as well, adding some support to the late-1940s figure.

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The accordion. If I am not mistaken, is a 120 bass. It has several more buttons and switches on the bass side than I am used to seeing in the videos and diagrams Ive seen.

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The keyboard side of the accordion. There are 15 total switches. 8 instrument switches, and 9 for the AccordionOrgan functions (which unless I am mistaken; are either broken, or require power). In addition to this there are two knobs, which dont function; and two paddle switches on the edge of the keyboard, labeled Master-off and Master-on. The Master-on paddle will engage the same function as the Master-on switch on the instrument panel, but the paddle Master-off is malfunctioning.

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A close up of the switches. Next to the Organ switches is a slider bar. I do not know its function.

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An unknown jack on the bottom of the accordion. Some searching has lead me to maybe an old audio out. It looks like it would accept a plug like THIS

If anybody has any information on this accordion, I would love to hear it. I can also supply more pictures, if needed.

[edit - resized huge images for forum]

 

[Soulsaver]

Wow! It is a beauty. But, sorry Icant help much with info. I've not come accross Lesmann. Jim D will know more - but I'd say this is later than 1940's, looks mid 50's earliest to me, or even later.
I guess you know that the pics are still too big?

 

[thatwyomingpony]

Yes I have now resized the pictures. Hopefully it is better. If not, I can resize them again.

 

[Soulsaver]

Better - but still BIG - I can only see 14 black keys in the first pic... for example :|
Edit: Yep they're good now.

 

[barkis]

Now they are of a good size.

Interesting instrument.

 

[Soulsaver]

I'm still guessing but the slider is likely to be a sordina (partial mute) that will give a subtle treble tone change. And you're right - the organ sounds are electronic..

 

[thatwyomingpony]

If the organ sounds are electric, I assume they're powered from the jack? There are no other features on the instrument that suggest electricity.

I'm certain a lot of the changes in the sound provided by the switches will become more apparent after I send it to a professional to be maintained. Either that, or I need a keen ear.

 

[Soulsaver]

If the organ sounds are electric, I assume theyre powered from the jack? There are no other features on the instrument that suggest electricity.

Fair assumption - look at the ebay listings extra pics - will give you an idea of the internals. There is ribbon connector from the bass side (socket not shown) to a multipin to the treble electrics. Looks more advanced than 1950s IMHO.

 

[fjsys]

Nice looking professional accordion you have there, I would be surprised if it was not a tone chamber model.

The connector is either for the internal microphones, or the electronics.

Unfortunately by the look of the accordion it looks like you are missing the tone generator for the electronics to work. Usually accordions like this have an external box that will plug into them that will generate all of the sounds on the switches. An example would be an Elkavox or a Cordovox accordion.

I would recommend giving up on the electronics (my Elkavox 83 tone generator sounds like a $10 keyboard) and just playing it as is.

Ben

 

[donn]

Im certain a lot of the changes in the sound provided by the switches will become more apparent after I send it to a professional to be maintained. Either that, or I need a keen ear.

The ordinary accordion switches like bassoon etc. should make an audible difference, right?

 

[thatwyomingpony]

The ordinary accordion switches like bassoon etc. should make an audible difference, right?

Yes, but only slightly. In the lower and upper registers especially there are 1 or 2 dead reeds (not sure if that is the proper terminology) where the note will only sound on the push instead of the pull or vice versa.

Unfortunately by the look of the accordion it looks like you are missing the tone generator for the electronics to work. Usually accordions like this have an external box that will plug into them that will generate all of the sounds on the switches. An example would be an Elkavox or a Cordovox accordion.

Ah. Well if that is the case, it is good to know. Maybe sometime in my lifetime Ill come across a tone generator - if not just to make the instrument complete.

 

[Soulsaver]

Nice looking professional accordion you have there, I would be surprised if it was not a tone chamber model.

Ben

Its a 3 voice, no tone chamber if the same as the one listed on ebay.com, and looks v.similar.

 

[JIM D.]

This one is 1960's vintage and the electronic parts for this are obsolete. The parts you have missing are the (1) firing cable (2) power supply 9v (3) volume pedal The accordion has the electronic orchestral boards under the keyboard and power and output is provided via the firing cable which connects to the power supply and a foot pedal. The power supply has a 1/4 jack for connection to an amp. This was a very well made acoustic accordion with Italian Elka electronics. They didn't sell well here as the Cordovox & Accorgan accordions were more popular and offered more electronic features. The accordion looks in great shape and using it as an acoustic should suit you well. The jack on the accordion is a six pin CB/HAM microphone panel jack and two of the six pins connect to the accordion pickups. I'm not sure where your located but if you have a local accordion shop they should be able to fit you up with a cable with a six pin CB/HAM mic plug on one end and a 1/4" plug on the other end to connect to an amp so you can get use of the internal pickups. The plug you need can be found here -- MCM Electronics.com Part #27-7984 JIM D.

 

[thatwyomingpony]

Im not sure where your located but if you have a local accordion shop they should be able to fit you up with a cable with a six pin CB/HAM mic plug on one end and a 1/4 plug on the other end to connect to an amp so you can get use of the internal pickups.

I live in Wyoming. Unfortunately, even sparsely-outfitted music shops are few and far between, much less an accordion shop.

 

[kimric]

Paul Pasquali has a shop in Salt Lake and he is really good with electronic accordions. He could get you squared away.


Accordions International
1760 South 450 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84115

Toll-Free 1-800-935-0013
Phone (801) 485-5840
Fax (801) 487.7707

 

[Joanie]

I was doing a search online and found this post and I had to chime in. My Dad, along with his friend, were the ones that made the Lesmann accordion (the "les" comes from the last part of my Dad's last name and the "mann" comes from the last part of his friend's last name). I have done some research here and there and it seems that they filed a patent in 1961 or so for the accordion. Growing up I remember him doing repairs as needed to these accordions. I still have one. I found it interesting that there is someone out there that has one of his creations. Thanks.

Joanie

 

[Glenn]

Hi Joanie,

Thanks for making contact.
I did a quick search for your Dad's patent.
I think I found it.... US2983178, Fred Searles & Ralph Studmann and assigned to Lesman Corp.
Applied for in 1958 and published in 1961.
I'll attach a PDF of it if anyone is interested

 

[artelagro]

Hi Joanie
Fantastic looking box and having the above info makes this thread the most interesting I have read.
Now comes the really hard part :- What else can you, or any other contributor add, such as :- the number built, workshop details etc., etc.,
Thanks to all for the data to date.

 

[Joanie]

I don't know how many were made. I do have one in my possession and I have just the keyboard portion of another. I know that my Dad worked on these accordions until the early 2000's, so they are still out there and being used. And, he used to play the accordions A LOT! I believe I have the original drawings for the accordion as well. I'm just not sure where they may be. I'm really interested in the fact that there are people out there that know the "Lesmann".

I believe my Dad first built these in West Allis, WI. At the time he worked at a place called "The Music Shop" where he gave accordion lessons. He was an electrician by trade and loved to tinker with things.

Thanks to all for the information provided so far.

 

[edscrz]

I have a Lesmann with the foot pedal and power supply. It plugs into any amplifier. The organ stills sounds nice with fantastic electronic bass also. Reeds are good. It has a nice fast keyboard. I would like to sell it. Ed