Royal Standard

[Mr Mark]

Anything special about this unit? I put it for sale and have had calls from across the country and one in Europe. Nothing special I can see here but I did have a similar reaction to an Accordiana sold some time ago and later found it to be worth substantially more than I sold it for. No markings to indicate country of origin, and I have played better so I am just wondering. I think it could use a new set of bellows gaskets but otherwise plays relatively well. Not fond of the bass register mechanism, it sort of jams (internal reed block sliders)... so am not sure what all the fuss is about?

 

[Geronimo]

Royal Standard was a higher end brand of the former GDR (from Meinel&Herold). Its reputation was good enough that recently an East German accordion company selling Italian-made instruments acquired the brand name from Ursula Herold for their products.

Sort of the "Italian quality" production of the GDR for piano accordions and some standard bass button models. The brand renown is quite more prevalent in former East block countries than in Western countries. But they also exported quite a few instruments to the West and had good value for their price. Instruments in Western countries have a good chance of being "export quality".

Nicer sound than workhorses like the Western Atlantic IV deluxe. May have a 5-reed bass.

 

[JerryPH]

Royal Standard was a higher end brand of the former GDR (from Meinel&Herold).

I cannot recall where I heard this, but I recall seeing someone say that Royal Standard was Weltmeister rebranded?

 

[JIM D.]

Yes;
"Weltmeister's" made in the former Soviet block also carried the badge's Royal Standard" & "World Master".
At the time, if you resided behind the Iron Curtain, these brands plus mediocre Russian boxes were the only accordions available.
These Weitie's were sturdy but over-sized & heavy compared to a German or Italian box.
Their worst feature was the quality of reed construction.

 

[Geronimo]

Royal Standard was a higher end brand of the former GDR (from Meinel&Herold).

I cannot recall where I heard this, but I recall seeing someone say that Royal Standard was Weltmeister rebranded?

I dont think so. They have some common parts as they were all situated in close vicinity while Meinel&Herold was operative (in Brunndöbra, now a part of Klingenthal), and took parts from the same basic manufacturers. Sort of like accordions from Castelfidardo are similar. So looking at stuff like register switches and such might lead you to think that. But Weltmeister was a brand name of the VEB Harmonikawerke. While there were a few forced mergers in the latters history, I dont think that the Royal Standard brand/production was involved: I think they ceased production before the last large merger.

 

[JerryPH]

I dont think so. They have some common parts as they were all situated in close vicinity while Meinel&Herold was operative (in Brunndöbra, now a part of Klingenthal), and took parts from the same basic manufacturers. Sort of like accordions from Castelfidardo are similar. So looking at stuff like register switches and such might lead you to think that. But Weltmeister was a brand name of the VEB Harmonikawerke. While there were a few forced mergers in the latters history, I dont think that the Royal Standard brand/production was involved: I think they ceased production before the last large merger.

I knew I read it somewhere!

http://www.akkordeon-weltmeister.de/jahre-akkordeons-made-germany-a-33.html?language=en

Yup, they were made in Klingenthal and the name goes back to the 1800s!

 

[Mr Mark]

Interesting and thanks for the feedbacks. It seems the accordion world is as clear as mud lol. A quick Google shows several Weltmeister/Royal standard accordions for sale. In this particular instance I have to say the bass switching mechanism is as poor as I have seen on any accordion. It jams terribly - so much so that I've actually had to take out one of the sliding registers completely. I actually tried to sand it to reduce the thickness but it still jams in the actual reedblock when not attached to anything else. Doesn't help that the switch levers have no actual support and at some point are surely to bend in half irrepairably. I'm wondering if this isn't just a bunch of ex-pat eastern Europeans with a sense of nostalgia as there are definitely better accordions out there, at least locally. Cool to read some history though!