Welcome to old and new friends who are interested in discussing Cajun and other diatonic accordions, along with some occasional lagniappe....
CAJUN ACCORDION DISCUSSION GROUP
Interesting old box on e-bay - I use the word "interesting" very loosely. I think this chap thinks he has a wonderful old "cajun" box to sell. I don't expect to see a lot of bidders at $300 starting bid! In fact, if he gets one bidder at that price I'll eat my hat - metaphorically speaking only!
Regards
Andy W
wow
what a piece of ebay junk
it follows a law of ebay though, the crappier
the merchandise, the longer the description.
and the "notes to the buyer" are even longer.
"This could be played by a Pro on stage even Today"
"But,If you are a Musician and Plays Blues or Zy****,Gypsy or Cajun Music then this is really where it Belongs."
ok, i am starting to think it;s a joke.
wle.
1889 KALBE IMPERIAL ACCORDEON 9+ WOW WORKS CAJUN MUSEUM
No ZERO Bidders..Serious Bidders ONLY...Thank You...This is a Genuine ANTIQUE Musical Instrument....This is most likely the Best surviving example of a Victorian Era Squezze Box by KALBE'S IMPERIAL Accordeon of GERMANY that there is in existance.I recently acquired this from the Estate of the last surviving relative of a European Family that emigrated to the US in the 1890's. This,I was told, was brought from Germany at that time. The inscription on it reads: KALBE'S IMPERIAL ACCORDEON - THE ONLY ACCORDEON IN THE WORLD AWARDED THE HIGHEST DISTINCTION THE GOLD MEDAL MELBOURNE 1888/9. MADE IN GERMANY....Also inscribed on both Clasps it reads" GOLDENE STAATS MEDAILLE 1888/9 D.R. PATENT No.58249". All the Hardware is Intact and the Clasps and Corners are just as they were when made in 1889. This actually PLAYS very good.The Bellows is Pefect and all the Buttons function also.There are 3 larger levers on the left hand,I think,that work as Octave Register that mimic the lead played but 2 or 3 Octaves below .There is also remnants of the original hand strap that I left untouched. This Box will surprise you..Actually,it really is fairly loud when you get it all going. There are also Two Round Buttons on one end that I did not fool with. I believe that they also change the Key by sliding in and out. That's a guess but that's what I think anyway.I just left them as found. Hey,I'm no Accordian player and I really wouldn't know what they are supposed to do anyway but everything sounds functional to me. I do play guitar so I am familiar with scales a bit..This could be played by a Pro on stage even Today..When Closed it measures about a foot wide and 11 inched top to bottom handles. It also sits 6" deep. When Opened it's about 2 feet wide roughly.The Bellows is a Beautiful Gold and Brown embellished with Star's of David and circles for a striking Pattern. The Bellows is intact and beautiful.There is no rust at all.There are 10 fingering buttons that were originally topped with the numbers 1 to 10,I believe. There are 2 Original ivory? Buttons tops attached (#5 & 6) and I just got a call Today that a third button top was just found and will be included. I haven't seen it yet,though..The Buttons all work just as they should just as they are.I would have a Pro go through it and check everything out at a Professional Accordion shop but I don't think it need anything but some use. The finish is fantastic for being 115 years old.I was told that this was stored and taken out once a year and played by this 85 year old man. So,I know it's been stored and lovingly cared for by the same family....And..It shows.Please look at all the Pictures...There is one small crack ,see pics,above one of the pipes but doesn't seem to effect the sound.I took close ups of the two opening with the buttons pushed it to show this..You could easily fill it and match the paint but that's up to the Winner.It is playable just as it is.I see no repairs at all..This would be GREAT for CAJUN Music.This is an Authentic Squezze Box after all and the sound is fantastic.Condition is Fantastic and the Bellows is PERFECT.This really belongs in a Museum or it may end up in a Collection....But,If you are a Musician and Plays Blues or Zy****,Gypsy or Cajun Music then this is really where it Belongs.If you are a Recording Artist then this would be really sweet on a Cajun Record of old timey music. Musicologist do NOT pass this up.Museum Curators ,Please email me..Remember..This is a rare Antique...There are probably a handful and not in this condition either.So most likely this m is the only fully operation example I have not found any that are functional in any of the Music Instrument collection that I have researched...Please look at all the Pictures.If Condition is everything then this KALBE's Imperial ACCORDEON has it ALL.Great Piece of living History.This comes in the carrying Case Pictured that I am including as there was no case when I got it.I will Double Box this for Safe shipping..Please ask all Questions.Good Luck.Payment by PayPal at close of Auction or US Post Office M.O due 3 days after close of Auction.All Sales Final.Shipping in the lower 48 will be $20.00 except CA.,WA., and OR., will be $25.00.Hi. and Ak. will be $50.00.Foriegn Bidders Welcome..shipping to be determined depending on your location..Please ask all Questions.What a Beauty.Thanks for your Interest.
PLEASE READ THIS....IMPORTANT SMALL PRINT>>>>>..REPUTATION and CREDIBILITY are Two Items that you Cannot Buy On Ebay.They are GIVEN not Bought..BY OTHERS...Thank You, John C....NEW Bidders with less than 10 Positive Feedbacks,Please Email me Before You Bid or your Bid may be Voided.I welcome New Bidders who are Responsible.In the 6+ Years on Ebay I have Never been Sanctioned or Suspended and have worked Hard to Maintain a Positive Reputation.I have Respect for ALL PEOPLE and wish to be Treated as you would Like to be Treated....Talk to ME...Sometimes perceptions are different If you do Not Ask Questions.ASSUME NOTHING.I'm Here and answer Email Daily.Please ASK..I provide as much information as I am able.However,I have found that when differences do occur it is mainly due to misconceptions.If this does occur it is because you have not inquired and reach a conclusion BY YOURSELF.I am here and will disclose Everything I know....JUST ASK..I try to do that in the listing but unfortunately,I am not Perfect....I know...neither are You...so Please ASK ALL Questions..And if you Choose Not to ASK then be prepared to accept the Result without Blaming ME or EBAY...I am Trying Here....OK...Payment as described in the Auction..Next Day mail or 3 day Postage Preferred for US Post Office M.O.Payment ...There are No P.O. Box Deliveries with FedEx,so Shipping will be Different for P.O.Boxes and usually a little more....West Coast Resident in..CA.,WA.,OR.,HI. and ALASKA .. Shipping will be More for CROSS COUNTRY SHIPPING...Foriegn Bidders Inquire about Western Union Payment or PayPal.This is a Hobby....Not a Business....I buy more than I sell....Again,Please ASK QUESTIONS BEFORE AUCTION ENDS..DON'T WAIT UNTIL the LAST DAY....ASSUME NOTHING...Shipping is USUALLY by FedEX but smaller items will go USPS and this will usually be specified in the Listing.Shipping Delays may Occur from Time to Time and I will try to Notify you if this does Happens. Shipping is generally on the following Monday after close of Auctions that end on Thursdays...HOLIDAYS will mean Shipping Delays...Any Auction ending After Thursday will Not be Guaranteed to be shipped the Following Monday but the Second Monday,at the Latest.Please Ask all questions.I will Not Leave Feedback until Feedback Has Been Left for Me.I had to Change this Policy due to New Users that are Unfamiliar with the Feedback Function.If you have an issue then email is the way to Go.I view Negative Feedback as a LAST RESORT.Your Communication and Patience are Appreciated.Thanks for your interest.I have been a member of Ebay for over 6 years....Bid with Confidence.Thank You.ITEMS CHANGE DAILY.Without YOU this would not be possible.Thanks You ALL for your Time and Consideration...Thanks Again,John
why did bravenet turn the word "z y d e g o" into
"Zy****"?
wle.
"But,If you are a Musician and Plays Blues or Zy****,Gypsy or Cajun Music then this is really where it Belongs."
oh my god
who knows
who even remembers that as an ethnic slur
i am not even sure who it;s supposed to be slurring
wle
Dago:
NOUN: Inflected forms: pl. da·gos or da·goes
Offensive Slang Used as a disparaging term for an Italian, Spaniard, or Portuguese.
ETYMOLOGY: Alteration of Spanish Diego, a given name, from Latin Iacbus, Jacob.
So, it didn't like W-O-P Salad.
Bop bop a lu *** a bop bam boom.
That's what happens when you live a sheltered life
Sure you got that right? Shelter or OLD FARTS home? The later is why I now live in Florida. Nearest OLD FOLKS home is just across the ball fields. Like some towns that have a bar on every corner, we have old an folks homes on just about every corner.
That is a slur to the Puerto Ricans. Just be glad that my X is not near you. She was a real hellfire whenever someone made the mistake of saying that or even something like ***** without the space between day and go. Her temper was hotter than her blood.
try z y d e g o
zy****
wle.
I got one of those on ebay, for like 25 bucks (with the 2 stops) and it works somewhat and is fun to have around... but sure doesn't hold much air or sound like much either.
i emailed the guy, saying i thought it was
worth about $10, and he said
"The last one went for $100 and it was broken badly.."
[he doesn;t mention if the buyer
was disappointed...]
"This is Museum quality..."
[yeah, as in unplayable..]
"I've already got an offer double that..But,I figured I'd give everyone a chance to learn....at least.."
---
oh well..
i have it on my list of bids i am watching in ebay.
i'm ready to "learn".
wle.
...and that is the wet dream of the ebayer.
It happens--- people pay $500 for a record worth 50¢, or buy someones old socks for $25.00, or buy a xerox copy of a photograph for hundreds...
for some it is just plain weirdness, others are sucked in and mislead.
the moral is caveat emptor!
it ends at 2:50 pm eastern time, we;ll see
wle.
__. Lots to call "shenanigans" on this one. The standard is that any accordion that says "Made in Germany" is after 1918 (the place that we call Germany was a federation prior to the end of WWI and pretty much every genuine pre-1918 box is marked "Made in Saxony" or "Made in Silesia" etc.) So that seems to rule out the 1889 date.
__. Not that that makes much difference, it's just another old, worn-out box that's not really worth much.
__. I once saw an old one-row at a flea market. It had all the flappers and buttons broken off - they were entirely missing. You could hear the loose reeds shaking inside the box. All the stops were broken off. It was dirty and the bellows was in tatters. I mean, it was a total wreck - not even good for parts. When you pulled it in and out, air just swept through the open reed holes with no reeds behind them. But if you pulled really hard, it seemed that at least one reed was still in place because you could hear an asthmatic reed wheeze, kinda behind the "whoosh" noise of the air doing nothing. When I finally got that one reed to speak, the seller looked over at me and said "see, it plays".
Um, thanks but no thanks.
Bruce Henderson, Wallace, NC
Hey--- that case alone is worth the $300.
it's remarkably well preserved too..
wle.
who woulda thunk?
?
wle.
oh well
i guess it;s no big news
shouldn;t make a big deal out of it
ebay is full of worthless accordions whose sellers
know nothing or even less
this was just an outrageous example
SO many things wrong with what the seller claimed
yet another example:
those accordions, even though a decal may
brag about some prize the manufacturer may have won,
usually in australia or new zealand,
and it may state a year the prize was won,
are of course not necessarily made in that year
the other irony is that the sellers bend over
backwards to state how old it is,
not even realizing that
age does nothing to improve an accordion.
they never know what key it;s in
florid descriptions of paint, varnish,
etc and lack of visible
rust, nothing about the sound other than that
it seems to make some.
i love how the bass strap on this one had
been chewed off by rats.
and how the stops 'seem to change the key or something
but i didn;t fool with them a lot'.
wle.
the rule of thumb for accordions on EBAY is that unless it was made by one of the master accordion makers from Louisiana, it is pretty much junk. Note how all the boxes on Ebay or Cajun Or Zydeco.
The April 2011 Dewey Balfa Cajun & Creole Heritage Week
