Pancordion Baton

[gfreed]

Hello, everyone:

A friend recently asked me to evaluate a Pancordion Baton that's in playable but rough shape. It's 41/120, LMMH, 19 1/8" keyboard, no tone chamber, 8 RH registers (flap switches) + palm master. The two bass switches operate two sets of reeds each, so there are a total of four registers there. It has those cool pop-up indicators showing which bass registers are active. Here are some pictures.

Based on what I have read in the list archives, it was probably made in the late 1950s. I think it was stored for years in a basement-- not in a case-- and shows some corrosion on the outside metal parts. I took off the grill and found a lot of dust and debris underneath. I didn't take the body apart but it's probably safe to assume there's dust inside.

I gave it a good workout and it is, in fact, playable. The keys, while a bit uneven in spots, feel solid. Certainly it needs a tuning and I'm sure the leather valves are curled or dried out in some spots-- I heard some flapping going on in a few of the RH reeds, especially in the bassoon. There are a few weak/dead notes in the piccolo reeds, and I found a couple of bellows leaks. But some of the low reeds sound very nice, and in some spots the two middles have a sweet tone with a light musette. On the bass side, tuning aside the mechanics are functional and feel solid.

My question: any thoughts on its value, based on this description? And despite its condition, any opinions on whether it be worth any effort to try to fix or restore it? My gut tells me this could be a solid instrument if given enough attention. The accordion lives in the Boston, MA/USA area. Thanks for any advice!

 

[Ventura]

ANY Pancordion that was made in the USA factory is worth having

whether or not it is worth restoring depends on how deep your pockets are

from my knowledge, this would have been around the middle period
of USA production, as the flappers were different earlier on, and the Baton
model eventually solidified around the voluptuous shift configuration toward
the end of the 1950's, and it has the sound re-direct louvres

there were many many variations on early models and plenty were built
as special orders for professionals as well as the variations and one-offs
made for the Welk organization

hopefully the moisture did not cause any irreparable mold/mildew damage

it will absolutely need full re-waxing and reed leathers at a minimum
and the bellows obviously need re-taped

the mics suggest it was made for/used professionally,
i would assume the reeds are excellent quality

 

[Tom]

Welcome Reed! From what you're saying, and the pictures, I'd say it's worth restoring. I don't know values in the Boston area, so whether it's worth is greater or less than what a commercial restoration is the question. Will you do the work yourself? Good luck!

 

[JerryPH]

I'd answer somewhere in the middle... yes any PAN is worth saving, but there comes a point that the costs can outweigh the value of the instrument, in which case it becomes a passion or sentimental project. You mentioned corrosion on the outside... think more of the same will be apparent inside, so something to consider.

I'd say that the investment line is somewhere in the $500-$1000 range for repairs... and if you have a professional doing that for you, this is a surprisingly easy number to hit real fast. Anything higher and we move in to passion project territory.

 

[Tom]

I'd answer somewhere in the middle... yes any PAN is worth saving, but there comes a point that the costs can outweigh the value of the instrument, in which case it becomes a passion or sentimental project. You mentioned corrosion on the outside... think more of the same will be apparent inside, so something to consider.

I'd say that the investment line is somewhere in the $500-$1000 range for repairs... and if you have a professional doing that for you, this is a surprisingly easy number to hit real fast. Anything higher and we move in to passion project territory.

So let's say you pay $400 for the accordion, put $1000 into it, you're already at $1400. Might as well pony up another $1000 and get a new Italian, even a smaller, say 34/72 to meet modern hobbyist standards. You're better off.

 

[debra]

I was sad to learn that the Pancordion Baton has no tone chamber whereas the Crucianelli Baton does. (I believe the PAN is built by Crucianelli/)
I'd say that any Crucianelli Baton is worth restoring, but whether the PAN is really depends on its condition as its final value will be considerably less because there is no cassotto. The Crucianelli Baton was loved a lot by jazz players (back in the days...)

 

[Ventura]

So let's say you pay $400 for the accordion, put $1000 into it, you're already at $1400. Might as well pony up another $1000 and get a new Italian, even a smaller, say 34/72 to meet modern hobbyist standards. You're better off.

yes, for a hobbyist or someone on their way up in their career

however, after restoration, the Pan would be a Lifetime accordion for someone

big difference in the long run

 

[gfreed]

Thanks, everyone! If it were my accordion I might take on the repair/restoration myself, but since it belongs to a friend-- and someone I'd like to *keep* as a friend-- I don't think it would be a good idea for me to attempt it.

Something unusual I noted: the bass buttons are marked at Ab, C and B. I've never encountered an accordion marked at the B button rather than the E button. Anyone else ever seen this?

 

[Ventura]

I was sad to learn that the Pancordion Baton has no tone chamber whereas the Crucianelli Baton does. (I believe the PAN is built by Crucianelli/)
I'd say that any Crucianelli Baton is worth restoring, but whether the PAN is really depends on its condition as its final value will be considerably less because there is no cassotto. The Crucianelli Baton was loved a lot by jazz players (back in the days...)

after about 1960, yes Crucianelli as builder

my USA Baton is chambered

 

[Ventura]

Something unusual I noted: the bass buttons are marked at Ab, C and B. I've never encountered an accordion marked at the B button rather than the E button. Anyone else ever seen this?
[/QUOTE]

yes, usually as a request from the artist placing a factory order
(where it can be conveniently implemented)

 

[debra]

Something unusual I noted: the bass buttons are marked at Ab, C and B. I've never encountered an accordion marked at the B button rather than the E button. Anyone else ever seen this?

It may have been an error by a repairer who disassembled the bass mechanism and then put it back together. The B and E pistons (for base notes) are likely so much alike they can be switched without noticing.

 

[Tom]

yes, for a hobbyist or someone on their way up in their career

however, after restoration, the Pan would be a Lifetime accordion for someone

big difference in the long run

Thanks! Guess I better fix and play my Crucianelli/Pan. So much to do, so little time, gotta take my better half kayaking today. First I'm gonna try loading the Roland Editor ....

 

[JerryPH]

So let's say you pay $400 for the accordion, put $1000 into it, you're already at $1400.

Right, then you have a $1400 41/120 with known good quality and good reputation... and if the one with Cassotto, an AWESOME sound.

Might as well pony up another $1000 and get a new Italian, even a smaller, say 34/72 to meet modern hobbyist standards. You're better off.

Then you would have a new SMALLER accordion for $2400.

Which is really the better purchase? Depends on the buyer, if they have a need for a small accordion and have $2400 to spend instead of $1000 to repair.

 

[gfreed]

A little more context: my friend's son is a talented professional who is looking to possibly add the accordion to his arsenal. This Pancordion is currently something of a beater box, but with some investment it could become his gateway instrument into the pleasant black hole of accordions.

 

[Ventura]

get him some material to read about Pancotti.. a copy of the patent
for the louvres.. the address of the old factory so he can drive past..

if he gets "invested" in the history he may see his way clear to adopting
that one

and get him a copy of "how to repair accordions" as well

LoL