Found an old one row Hohner in my great Aunt's attic. It's black and red, with paper bellows, copper buttons, only 3 sets o' reeds. Original reeds... rotten leathers (I replaced them today)
Opened it up, cleaned the rust out of the reeds with fishing line, replaced the leathers... It has charm, I'll give it that.
It's marked 1923 on the reed block inside. Says "highest award 1915, San Fransisco" on the old, red bellows frame
This is the most sloppy s.o.b. I've ever played in my life. Sounds good though... My playing couldn't be worse on this recording!
None the less, I made a poopy recording with it.
You can hear the bellows dividers slapping as it goes....
The accordion is in tune with itself. I think it's somewhere near the key of A but I'm going on instinct.
The sound is so cool that, if it were mine, I would would try to find a way to make a viable instrument.
If you had all the time in the world you could special order new bellows of the right size, then make (or ask a builder to make) bellows frames that fit. Store the old bellows for preservation sake.
Actually the thought crossed my mind, but it would be a costly venture in the end. Plus the thing is in tune with itself. I like it how it is, personally.
Sounds great! It is an "A" accordion. I have one of the newer Hohner ones, a "C" with the smaller bellows and 4 stops. Ok to learn on, but noit the same as the La.-built ones for sure. Can you get longer bellows for these accordions?