Reed ID Help

[TonyChicago]

Hi,

I'd like to know if you think the reeds are machined, finished, or hand made. The problem I had with taking pictures is I don't know what part of the reed you actually need to see to be able to tell, so I apologize if I didn't get it correct. Thank you.

 

[debra]

These are hand made reeds. Picture 5 is the clearest for this identification but 3 is also already good.
Machine reeds and tipo-a-mano (hand finished) reeds are stamped out of a wide band of steel that comes on large rolls. As a result the sides of the reeds are all "shiny" metal. A mano (hand made) reeds are made from a narrow band of steel that also comes on large rolls. The band has the same width as the square base of the reed (where the rivet is). The band of steel has blue edges. By shaping the reeds the sides lose that blue, but the base isn't touched and thus keeps its blue edges.
Machine reeds are riveted by a machine resulting in a round flat top. The rivets of a mano and tipo-a-mano reeds are hammered and thus show hammer marks.

 

[TonyChicago]

First, thanks for the ID. Second, great explanation about how to ID. Somehow I need to practice this identification thing so I can nail it for future reference.

 

[Walker]

The reeds sure look nice. We can see the quality in many places. See the way the grain flows on the reed tongue - worked at a 45 degree angle. Also, how the reeds appear to be marked with the letter M. I like the way the reeds are both waxed and pinned. Also, the hardwood reed blocks, maybe European Walnut... it's difficult to tell from the photos.

Is the reed manufacturer named anywhere on the reeds? It might be Magnaterra, but I thought this maker stamped their full name on the reeds rather than a single letter...

 

[TonyChicago]

The reeds sure look nice. We can see the quality in many places. See the way the grain flows on the reed tongue - worked at a 45 degree angle. Also, how the reeds appear to be marked with the letter M. I like the way the reeds are both waxed and pinned. Also, the hardwood reed blocks, maybe European Walnut... it's difficult to tell from the photos.

Is the reed manufacturer named anywhere on the reeds? It might be Magnaterra, but I thought this maker stamped their full name on the reeds rather than a single letter...

Thanks. I found no name on the reeds. I've had this accordion for many years. It's a Menghini 2 reed, double chamber. But no reed mfg. markings unfortunately (that I can tell). I wrote Menghini a bit ago and they are totally clueless about any information on original Menghini & Figli accordions.

 

[Walker]

M reeds... I wonder if it's Menghini's own proprietary reeds.

Either way, great accordions are great to the core - the quality is very clear.

 

[TonyChicago]

M reeds... I wonder if it's Menghini's own proprietary reeds.

Either way, great accordions are great to the core - the quality is very clear.

Yeah I have no idea if Menghini used to make their own reeds. I had another Menghini, 3 reeds, two low reeds, triple chamber, mute, hand made reeds and had the mellowest sound I have ever heard. Sadly, the box got stolen. I sooo wish I still had that accordion.

 

[debra]

Sometimes accordion makers try to hide who made the reeds. Reeds have a diagonal stripe (in a corner of the reed plate) to mark that one side as the "outside" face. The "inside" has no stripe. If a reed plate has the name of the reedmaker on it it is on the side with the strip. If you find a reed plate that is missing the stripe chances are the name of the maker is on the other side.
I did a major overhaul on the Crucianelli I inherited from my sister. The name of the reed maker was nowhere to be seen, but there were a few reeds that were missing the stripe. And sure enough when I removed these reeds the name was on the other side: it was Bugari (an old but very good reed maker, not related to the Bugari accordion factory).