Weltmeister may have begun in 1852, but the accordeon, specifically the 10 button diatonic accordeon, was invented in Austria by Armenian immigrant Cyril Damien in 1829.
No one can build a "CAJUN" accordeon except a CAJUN. All other 10 treble button, 2 bass, bellows driven, diatonic, bisonoric, aerophones, are accordeons.
CAJUNS copied the Saxon/German/Austrian instruments. And those copies would be CAJUN accordeons.
Persons, or companies, who are not Cajun, making CAJUN accordeons are comical. They are making copies of Cyril Damien's invention, or copies of copies of Sterlings and Monarchs. Badging or labeling or calling the 10 button 2 bass etc accordion "CAJUN" is nothing more than a cheap marketing ploy and ripping off the CAJUNS.
The PIANO accordeon (abomination) was invented in the 1850s.
And calling the 10 Button Accordeon "CAJUN" dismisses Cyril Damiens invention and contribution to the world of free reeds and also dismisses all the Germans, Austrians, Saxons and Bohemians who built accordeons for decades before they were made by CAJUNS.
However, if it were not for CAJUNS making copies of these earlier accordeons, most folks in the US, and a bit around the world, would not have enjoyed listening to a unique, colloquial style of music or enjoy playing accordeon.
is ok not made by GABB
has strange stacked stand up reed blocks and not made anything like a Cajun Accordeon other than 10 buttons and 2 button bass with bellows.
I have a Gabb "Cajun King" lacquered black "D" and it sure does play like a Cajun accordion. Actually plays the same or a lot better than some of the Cajun accordions I've played on in the past. I study Nathan Abshire and Amedee Ardoin with it often, and the sound and playability of that "King" is good enough to accomplish this. The stacked stand up reed blocks pi** off the local Cajun box builders, but I think they'll come around to eventually compromising and offer to tune or fix them. I only know of Mouton accordions north of Crowley, La that will work on the stand up reed blocks, probably because Greg Mouton will order Cajun Kings for his customers. Stands to reason that he'll adjust or repair them too. I am forever grateful to him for hooking me up with that Cajun King accordion. He outfitted it with Cajun style leather strapping and before hand had Gabbinelli put in some dam good sounding reeds too which Greg retuned "perfectly Cajun". No doubt, life changing!