Help for identification : "Bandonion" with 52 buttons

[david fabre]

Hello to the experts on this forum !

 

I'm in contact with the owner of an interesting "Bandonion" with 52 buttons (22 on the left, 30 on the right).

it is hence a "104 voice" which apparently is not that common.

 

Has anyone any clues about the maker (I guess it's not AA), the age, and the value ?

Thanks !

 

[mChavez]

Is it a very small box?

 

Looking at the rhs manual, it looks like a small hands/kids/ladies version with shorter spacing between the buttons.

[david fabre]

I'll tell you soon ... just ordered it as my christmas present, and should receive it next week.

Best wishes !

 

[david fabre]

Hi again (and best wishes !)

So my christmas present arrived.... Here are a few more photos of the inside of the "bandonion".

The condition of the instrument is not that bad : the bellows are airtight, all buttons are operational,

all notes are working (except for a few reeds which don't respond), and it seems well tuned to 440. 

It has zinc plates (my brother who is working in chemical analyses confirmed this).

A few pearl incrustations are missing, apart from this the outside appearance is not that bad considering the presumed age.

 

I think changing the leather valves, cleaning the reeds and a little cosmetic care could turn it into a decently playable instrument.

I'm not sure if I will keep it or resell it (the layout is still a nightmare to me).

 

Help for identification of the maker, date and valuation is still appreciated !

As far as I could understand, the name "bandonion" is associated to old instruments made by the Band company

(from the family of the inventor Heinrich Band).

 

 

 

  

Edited January 9 by david fabre

[Squeaky Pete]

Any more information on this?

I have just bought a 52 button similar to this, but less pretty.

I'm missing a couple of buttons but apart from that it all looks doable.

[david fabre]

Hello !

Thanks for asking news. Alas not much more to say on this one. I showed it to Emmanuel Pariselle, the french expert on concertinas, and he said me "good luck" for  the renovation. He said that tuning such beasts is a mess ! I'm still considering to start the work with the valves but no time right now. If you want so share photos of yours, I'd be happy to see them !