Topic: Info on Swiss accordion builder Paul Greub? (Read 4676 times)

Michael Eskin · « **on:** June 11, 2015, 04:30:50 PM »

Does anyone have any info about Paul Greub and his instruments?

He was a Swiss builder of instruments in San Francisco from 1940-1975, from the little info I could find on him he built all his instruments by hand himself.

I just picked up this C-system beauty off eBay, represented as fully restored. Not sure of the age, looks 1950-1960s vintage to me. LMMM, 140 bass.

Should be arriving tomorrow (June 12)

Michael Eskin · « **Reply #1 on:** June 13, 2015, 05:15:49 PM »

Lovely. The seller didn't know to block the bass machine before shipment and I didn't think to remind him. While the instrument was very well packed, insured and box showed absolutely no damage from shipment, it must have gotten a hard jolt in transit. Lots of blame to go around!

Now dealing with this (photos below)... Way out of my league on fixing this sort of thing. I think something actually broke beyond just the bass mechanism taking a dive.

By coincidence I happen to be driving up to the L.A. area tomorrow to visit my local repairman on Sunday to pick up another instrument and he's happy to look at it. Nothing money can't fix. Working with the seller to deal with the repair cost and he can deal with UPS about getting reimbursed (I have my doubts...).

I was able to play the treble side and it feels great and sounds very nice, definitely an instrument I'll enjoy once we deal with putting the bass side back together.

pgroff · « **Reply #2 on:** June 13, 2015, 05:59:53 PM »

That's too bad, seisiuneer.

It's always frustrating when (as may be the case here) an instrument that survived for decades suffers serious damage just before it arrives at your door.

Good luck with that repair! I wonder if Kimric Smythe in Oakland has some local knowledge about Greub?

PG

Michael Eskin · « **Reply #3 on:** June 13, 2015, 06:34:29 PM »

Thanks! I'll post again when it's back in service...

rees · « **Reply #4 on:** June 13, 2015, 07:36:45 PM »

I, also, am looking for info on a Swiss accordion builder - Rene Pingeon. I have one of his instruments and would like to know more about him.

squeezy · « **Reply #5 on:** June 13, 2015, 09:40:53 PM »

I don't know much about the history of the man Pingéon himself - but he went in to partnership with another maker and formed the Hercule brand based in Corcelles, Neuchâtel in Switzerland. His earlier instruments (around 1900-1915) were labeled as Pingeon and made in Le Locle

I've only ever cast my eyes over 2 of these boxes - one is a later 1920's Hercule continental chromatic of immaculate construction and design that we have here at home and the other an earlier Pingeon diatonic which was more traditionally built for it's age. I stupidly missed out on bidding for a 2.5 row with almost identical styling and construction as our chromatic box by using an auction sniper that went wrong! I bet that was a beauty. Both instruments I saw had the characteristic steel Dix reeds on zinc plates.

Other than that there is very little on the internet I could find - a few references here and there on French and German auctioneers listings. One thing is for sure, they were superbly made and have stood the test of time better than most instruments of their age. The later ones were built with such a clever mechanism to disassemble them without even needing a single tool that they were clearly designed with maintenance in mind! Funnily enough - a lot about their construction reminds me of modern Italian boxes far more than they do of any other boxes of their vintage.

rees · « **Reply #6 on:** June 13, 2015, 11:22:37 PM »

Thanks, John, That's a good info.
Mine is a Hercule, I would guess 1940s ish.
I haven't had a chance to look under the bonnet (hood, in US speak). I'll dig it out tomorrow and post a picture.
Plays like a dog. I bought it for the groovy celluloid finish.

squeezy · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2015, 12:09:15 AM »

Oh - did you get that one that was on the eBay that looked like it was covered in hammered aluminium? That one was the only one I ever saw that was celluloid covered - all the others I've seen looked far more like pieces of furniture. Sad to hear it plays badly!

I'm as intrigued by these boxes as I suspect you are - you're welcome to have a look at the chromatic box which is a piece of art and beautiful engineering if our you're ever passing this way.

rees · « **Reply #8 on:** June 14, 2015, 12:26:37 AM »

I might pop in one day.
That's the one, hammered aluminium.
It's only a dog due to curly valves and loose plates. When time is on my side it will eventually emit a euphonoius whale.

Michael Eskin · « **Reply #9 on:** June 14, 2015, 08:10:51 AM »

I guess this is the Swiss accordion makers forum now. :-)

squeezy · « **Reply #10 on:** June 14, 2015, 08:55:09 AM »

Sorry to hijack your thread like that! There is something a bit magical about Swiss accordions in that most of us seem to know far less about them, they are fairly rare, and seem to generally be very well made.

Yours is particularly unusual in that it wasn't made in Switzerland!

I hope you manage to get the stradella mechanism working - they are particularly susceptible to knocks in the post. In the past I've found that it's often just a couple of the lever arms that have got stuck the wrong side of their rod shafts that causes the whole mechanism to seize up. But obviously yours is a much bigger and more fiddly job to take on!

Michael Eskin · « **Reply #11 on:** June 14, 2015, 03:16:36 PM »

No problem!

I get the sense that this one may be among the few surviving instruments from this maker, so I really want to get it restored to its full glory. Bringing it in to my repairman today.

Anahata · « **Reply #12 on:** June 14, 2015, 03:18:36 PM »

Quote from: Rees on June 14, 2015, 12:26:37 AM

euphonious whale.

I'm saving that in case I need a band name in the future.

rees · « **Reply #13 on:** June 14, 2015, 04:43:12 PM »

Quote from: Anahata on June 14, 2015, 03:18:36 PM

Quote from: Rees on June 14, 2015, 12:26:37 AM
euphonious whale.

I'm saving that in case I need a band name in the future.

Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks: "The Euphonious Whale" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTElxrjbmY0

Michael Eskin · « **Reply #14 on:** June 15, 2015, 07:53:36 AM »

Repairman says there's over $1000 of damage with the wood breakage of the bass mechanism and what it would take to put it back together. Back it goes, hope I can get my money back. Sad.

Broadland Boy · « **Reply #15 on:** June 15, 2015, 12:22:27 PM »

Any damage in transit is a shame but given the rarity this sounds like a tragedy

rees · « **Reply #16 on:** June 16, 2015, 11:21:27 AM »

Here are some pics of the Hercule by Rene Pingeon. The reeds have a circle stamped on them, are these DIX reeds?

Theo · « **Reply #17 on:** June 16, 2015, 02:38:06 PM »

Quote from: Rees on June 14, 2015, 12:26:37 AM

That's the one, hammered aluminium.

And built like a tank!

Michael Eskin · « **Reply #18 on:** June 17, 2015, 08:47:01 PM »

Unfortunately, the damage to the Greub is beyond reasonable repair. UPS has collected the instrument for damage verification, and I think it may be lost to history.

squeezy · « **Reply #19 on:** June 18, 2015, 02:53:01 PM »

I'm really sorry to hear that.

I suspect what you're saying is that it's a write-off in that it will cost more to repair professionally than it would end up being worth, rather than saying it's impossible to repair ... I hope that doesn't mean it will be thrown away or destroyed because I'm sure someone, somewhere would be willing and capable of using their own time and skills to try and get such a rare beast playing again.

News:

Author Topic: Info on Swiss accordion builder Paul Greub? (Read 4676 times)