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Discussions => Instrument Makes and Models => Topic started by: Barry Tolson on February 12, 2019, 09:58:12 PM

Title: Buttstädt
Post by: Barry Tolson on February 12, 2019, 09:58:12 PM
I've recently encountered a few Buttstädt brand boxes. I've never heard of this brand until now. Can anyone share some information or history on this company? Thanks
Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: pgroff on February 13, 2019, 12:33:26 AM
Hi Barry,

If you search this forum for "Buttstädt" you'll find a few posts by triskel and others. Piano accordions made by Hermann Buttstädt are not uncommon as are small 2 row diatonic boxes similar to some of those made by Koch etc.

I have at least one Buttstädt-labeled box and a couple others that were probably made by them. triskel has suggested that this company made the nice 6 voice 1-row Globe Gold Medal Professional De-Luxe Irish accordions sold in New York.

Again, you'll find those posts on melnet if you search. I don't know much else about the company's history however.

PG
Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: Barry Tolson on February 13, 2019, 12:46:01 AM
Thanks PG. I've read the few post on Melnet that I found via the search function.  Did not see much in the way of history. I initially assumed they were made in Buttstädt Germany, which I believe is south/southwest of Berlin. Perhaps this is a surname, though. Still, have never heard of Hermann Buttstädt. So interesting learning the history of all the makers!
Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: pgroff on February 13, 2019, 01:06:21 AM
I'm not sure why I remember the name as Hermann Buttstädt, Gera. Google does pull up examples of that name, but not many.

H. Buttstädt Gera for sure!

PG

Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: Peadar on February 14, 2019, 01:58:59 AM
It would be really interesting to see photos of some of these branded boxes- there seem to be hundreds (which probably means thousands) of different models/brands.
Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: pgroff on February 14, 2019, 12:25:09 PM
Here's a simple 2 row, 8 bass, AD Buttstädt voiced in MM, not one of their fancier instruments but a well made example of its type. Reminds me of the Koch Ouverture models.

Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: James Fitton on February 14, 2019, 03:47:48 PM
If you look at the German version of Wikipedia (under "Ziehharmonika"), there's reference to an accordion builder called Heinrich Wagner who was active in Gera in the late 19th century "
1890 wurde die Firma aufgelöst, der Markenname wurde von der Fa. Buttstädt übernommen" - in 1890 the firm was dissolved, the brand was adopted by the company  Buttstädt. So there does seem to be a connection between the brand and Gera. It may of course be a complete coincidence, but it also seems that a significant 20th century industry in .Buttstädt. was the manufacture of ear protection devices.....
Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: pgroff on February 14, 2019, 05:12:18 PM
Here are some earlier melnet threads mentioning this maker. I tend to attend carefully to triskel (Stephen Chambers), one of the most knowledgeable authorities alive on free-reed history.

http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,20799.msg250033.html#msg250033

http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,1668.msg242412.html#msg242412

http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,17370.msg213199.html#msg213199

http://forum.melodeon.net/index.php/topic,336.msg199430.html#msg199430
Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: Kimric Smythe on February 14, 2019, 05:46:31 PM
I rebuilt a tiny 32 bass piano accordion by this company. It was actually smaller that a Hohner 1 row.
Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: Barry Tolson on February 14, 2019, 07:05:07 PM
Kimric, what did you think of the quality of that box?
Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: Barry Tolson on February 14, 2019, 07:09:39 PM
I came across this 3 row and was intrigued.
Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: pgroff on February 15, 2019, 12:18:47 AM
That one looks likely to be a 2 voice, 3 row CBA (chromatic button accordion), probably similar in build quality to the smaller diatonic box whose photo I posted above. Of course this one is more complex with the stradella bass machine. Will likely have nice sounding Dix reeds. These days, unrestored CBAs from that period often go unsold or sell for peanuts, so if you want a vintage chromatic button accordion to play, and are willing to buy a project, you have lots of choice among project instruments in that system. The main expense will be the cost of restoring it,  so my advice would be to chose wisely when buying the project.
Title: Re: Buttstädt
Post by: Kimric Smythe on February 17, 2019, 09:36:57 PM
 It needed a bunch of things like sections of celluloid that were missing on the keyboard , and other sections re attached. the lowest reeds on the left were not very responsive so I replaced them with Italian ones that I had that would fit.
 Some issues with delaminating plywood and the bass buttons were rough and brown due to age and chemical reasons. I sanded them and gave them a coat of ivory colored nail polish to seal and smooth them.
 You can see it in the picture next to a Italian 12 bass
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