Problematic Condition of New Accordion

[OuijaBoard]

Has anyone ever received a supposedly brand-new accordion with a big square of celluloid cut out of the back with a razor? And naked wood showing? What passes for a back pad is a cheap piece of plastic-covered cardboard that was literally nailed and glued to the accordion, no snaps for removability. I can't tell how much of the celluloid is missing because the pad won't come off without damage. There clearly was celluloid there at one time because the naked area is stained with the color. I hope I attached the image correctly. I am in shock.

 

[Thomas N]

Wow. I've never seen that. I would not be ok with that. I learn something every time I hop on this site, however. Perhaps there's a reason for it that some of the repair-oriented folks will know.

 

[Dingo40]

Where was this made?
Does that logo say "Made in Italia"?
That would be worrying!

 

[OuijaBoard]

I think there is a reason, all right. But it's not a good reason.

 

[OuijaBoard]

Where was this made?

Italy, supposedly. There is a stamp in the lower right, perhaps not visible in the image. I guess my question was rhetorical in a way, because I know this is not normal or acceptable. I have other Italian accordions that came with removable cushioned back pads and pristine, intact celluloid all over the chassis. I am absolutely devastated that any maker or dealer would try to pass this off on a good-faith customer at Italian prices. Or Asian prices, actually. I'm just in shock and struggling to wrap my head around this.

 

[Dingo40]

Could this now be "designed in Italy, made in China "?
Simply astonishing!
This is definitely worse than Waldo's "Killer Accordion" ( see thread).

 

[OuijaBoard]

Italy, supposedly. There is a stamp in the lower right, perhaps not visible in the image. I guess my question was rhetorical in a way, because I know this is not normal or acceptable. I have other Italian accordions that came with removable cushioned back pads and pristine, intact celluloid all over the chassis. I am absolutely devastated that any maker or dealer would try to pass this off on a good-faith customer at Italian prices. Or Asian prices, actually.

Could this now be "designed in Italy, made in China "?
Simply astonishing!

The price was not "made in China," and I acquired a Chinese Hohner about a year ago for practice and knock-around that is pristine.

I've sent a letter with jpegs to the (supposed) maker, because I want them aware of it in case it happened at the very well-known dealer. I will take it up with them tomorrow. It is sick-making. I really do not know what is happening in this world.

 

[Tom]

Wow, so sorry to see this. I hope they honor a return policy and you’re able to get your money back. Disgusting.

 

[pitzelberger]

It looks strange how the celluloid is cut, but having some inflexible cardboard in this place is not uncommon. Almost all my accordions have some. Although the one on yours looks a bit different. Really more like the soft back pads, which many accordions have on top of the actual cardboard.

Since the cardboards are not easy to remove, I don’t know how it looks below on my accordions, except for one, where removing the cardboard gave me access to the mechanism of the master switch, when I needed to repair it. So in this cases there was definitely a big hole in the celluloid.

Here the back of an old Hohner. I think there is also celluloid cut out behind.

 

[debra]

I wonder why you wanted to peak under the pad in the first place... It may be more common to have missing celluloid under a fixed (not held on with snaps) chest protector pad. It saves on the cost of celluloid... Every possible cost reduction in accordion production is taken advantage of nowadays. This didn't used to be the case. And especially on colorful accordions like this one it is common for repairers to cut out a piece of celluloid from an invisible spot on the back when celluloid repair becomes necessary after an accident.
That said, you cannot always rely on a "Made in XXX" stamp (XXX often being Germany or Italy) being truthful. The stamp may be "Made in XXX" but the rest of the accordion may not... What brand and model accordion is this? (When you show us the front of the accordion that could already give a clue.) Especially accordions with an Italian-sounding name that isn't one of the big names may actually have Chinese origin. Think of E.Soprani of Polverini_1899...

 

[tcabot]

Folks keep asking for lighter accordions.
This must save about 3-5 gramms.

It's a feature!

PS I suspect the celluloid had a bubble in that area, so some wise guy at the factory cut out a piece and glued the edges, so that the bubble won't spread?

 

[OuijaBoard]

I wonder why you wanted to peak under the pad in the first place... It may be more common to have missing celluloid under a fixed (not held on with snaps) chest protector pad. It saves on the cost of celluloid... Every possible cost reduction in accordion production is taken advantage of nowadays. This didn't used to be the case. And especially on colorful accordions like this one it is common for repairers to cut out a piece of celluloid from an invisible spot on the back when celluloid repair becomes necessary after an accident.
That said, you cannot always rely on a "Made in XXX" stamp (XXX often being Germany or Italy) being truthful. The stamp may be "Made in XXX" but the rest of the accordion may not... What brand and model accordion is this? (When you show us the front of the accordion that could already give a clue.) Especially accordions with an Italian-sounding name that isn't one of the big names may actually have Chinese origin. Think of E.Soprani of Polverini_1899...

The lower half of the pad is loose. Well, less than half. More like 1/3. What the hands in the photo are holding up is the lower1/3-ish, which is loose. There is a hinge-like fold to it. You can feel under it and turn it up. I had removed the instrument from the wrapping and was turning it around in the light, running my hands over it to be sure there were no cracks from shipping or anything.

Had the pad been a proper cushion with snaps, I probably would have unsnapped it entirely to quickly eyeball the whole back of the accordion. I'm not sure why that would be mystifying to you. Every accordion I've purchased new has been completely intact in the back, and the ones with pads are cushioned with snaps.

But it does not un-snap. In this instance I have only seen under the pad in the portion you see in the photo. The upper half or more like 2/3 or 3/4 is held down by screwed in or nailed in glorified thumbtacks. Not snaps. And the entire top edge is glued down to the accordion with sticky adhesive glue. I did not try to detach the top portion. So I can't see how high this disfigurement goes.

Since you have asked, the brand is Ottavianelli. To the tune of $3,500. It was not a repair.

 

[Dingo40]

I'm simply gobsmacked: it all looks rather amateurish

 

[OuijaBoard]

I've just checked a Chinese-made Hohner Nova CBA I've had for about 10 years. That accordion does have a nailed down hard-plastic panel, not a pad. Teensy screws, I guess, not technically nails. Perhaps there is no celluloid, or celluloid gaps under that. It cost about $1200. In the past I've had old vintage accordions that were of a quality level like the poster's old Hohner above, and they could have had a hard plastic panel like that, I'm not certain. I'm working late but have a newer Chinese Hohner PA at home, purchased early this year as a practice box after my home was burglarized and I lost numerous instruments. I'll check it. That is an Asian-made instrument at a price of around $1100 or $1200.

But a 2021 Paolo Soprani I purchased used a couple of years ago is completely intact with a cushioned backpad with snaps. Same size/configuration as this one. "Made in Castelfidardo" marque on the back. I don't know who is is doing the fabricating under the PS name, but they have been doing a very nice job, Not fancy but good solid construction, solid Durall Italian reeds and good workmanship. Price and features-wise this blue accordion was supposedly the same kind of thing. But the Paolo Soprani was much less expensive because it was a like-new used deal. Every Italian made bisonoric button accordion I had during my bisonoric period was completely intact with a cushioned pad with snaps, or else no pad.

If corners are being cut while prices are the same--higher than a few years ago, actually--I don't find that aceeptable.

 

[Ric46]

Totally unacceptable! Did you buy the accordion directly from Ottavianelli? Let me know if I can help you in any way

PS I may be wrong, but it seems very strange to me that a company would risk ruining its reputation by selling such products. I would like to understand well

 

[OuijaBoard]

The other thing is that this naked area is stained with blue. There was celluloid there. Something happened.

 

[OuijaBoard]

Totally unacceptable! Did you buy the accordion directly from Ottavianelli? Let me know if I can help you in any way

PS I may be wrong, but it seems very strange to me that a company would risk ruining its reputation by selling such products. I would like to understand well

No, from a dealer. I have emailed both the maker and the dealer tonight.

 

[OuijaBoard]

PS I suspect the celluloid had a bubble in that area, so some wise guy at the factory cut out a piece and glued the edges, so that the bubble won't spread?

Definitely something happened. Because that bare area is permeated with blue from the celluloid that was there. At whatever point in the chain it occurred, there was a decision to try to pass it off on an unwary purchaser at full new Italian-made price.

 

[Dingo40]

Yes, I find the geometrically uneven "cut" puzzling.

 

[Scuromondo]

When the accordion arrived, was that flimsy cardboard “back pad” already partially detached?—or were you so shocked at seeing it that you peeled it back out of curiosity to see what was beneath?