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[jeverist]

anyone have any ideas on this one currently up on US ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260773027012&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1204

29 buttons in two rows and 16 basses.  seller claims that its diatonic - I thought with all those buttons it might be some kind of a PA tuning with buttons.  he cannot determine the row keys.  It looks like a stepped keyboard from what I can tell.  some kind of a monster for sure, I bet it weighs a ton. D/G?  D/C#?  out of my price range in any event.

[hibbs3]

I have seen a 23 button baldoni, but not 29, and in 2 rows!

[robriki]

some kind of a monster for sure

But a shiny monster with lots of jewels!

Seems to be HEAVY!  And some of the bass buttons are missing.  For a seller that sell this kind of instrument a this kind of price, he should at least get someone to tell him the key...

[Owen Woods]

Blimey. Looks to be a 4 voice, from the stops. Lot of money though...

[jeverist]

sorry, Theo.  I thought that because this box was for sale on ebay that I had it in the right category.  I stand corrected.....

[Theo]

sorry, Theo.  I thought that because this box was for sale on ebay that I had it in the right category.  I stand corrected.....

Quite understandable.  This does seem to to be more of a discussion about the box, than an offer for sale.

[waltzman]

I kind of like it's appearance.  It is a lot of money though.  It'll be interesting to see if it stirs up any questions for the seller.

[Lars]

Reminds me a bit of this yoke:

[Andrew Culwell]

A few Questions to the seller and I have some interesting facts.  The Box is located in Woodlawn, New York being sold by an Irish woman.  The accordion belonged to her Uncle who played with a dancehall band in the 40's and 50's.  She does not know the tuning.  The Uncle passed and now the box is for sale.  Woodlawn is in the Bronx and back in the day was a hotbed of Irish music similar to Boston.  I'm sure the thing roars.  If anyone wishes to know the last name of the owner PM me. 

--Drew

[Andrew Culwell]

One of our fellow forum members has bought the box.  It's in the key of D/G  maybe he can explain more should there be interest.

[jeverist]

I'd love to hear it .......  and about it.  how it lays out, number of voices (4?) etc.  gotta love the look especially

[hughor]

The accordion is D/G box with  stepped key board.  Usually these boxes were D/C#.  I bought it from the original owner's niece who inherited it.  Unfortunately, she knew very little about it except to say that it was played  in Irish circles in NY by her uncle.  The box weighs about 17 lbs  and is in good shape.  The top and bottom buttons in both rows are dummies.  Sixteen basses are a plus.  LMMH

Baldoni-Bartoli  was know for making very decorated accordions.  Those sold for the Irish-American market usually had shamrocks and flag decorations.  This box is unusual in not having the typical Irish decorations.

Hugh

[hibbs3]

17 lbs?!

[nfldbox]

Could someone explain the need for the dummies?
And is this just for the collection or are you planning restoration? What does it need beyond the buttons?

[pgroff]

Could someone explain the need for the dummies?
And is this just for the collection or are you planning restoration? What does it need beyond the buttons?

I'm not sure there is a great "need" for dummy buttons but you often see them on large diatonic button accordions.  My take on this is that these are often diatonics that are built on the platform of a pre-made (or partially pre-made) accordion body, that was originally designed for a piano-keyboard or chromatic box.   The diatonic layouts don't need to have rows of levers that are as numerous (in number of functional, note-producing keys) as often found for the rows of black and white keys on piano-keyboard accordions.   So given a certain size accordion body designed for a 3, 4, 5, or 6 voice accordion, when installing a diatonic keyboard you may find there's empty real estate at the top and bottom of the keyboard plate -- unless you fill that with dummy buttons.

The Keshel accordion (pics below) is a 2 row G/C built into a body that may have been intended for a PA.  It has 6 dummy buttons - levers are there, and trimmed off aluminum pallet levers, but no holes in the soundboard or in the reedblocks.

Other very large Baldonis, and some "Buttonbox style Polka diatonics" I have seen, have also had the dummy buttons like Hugh's new box.  BTW he is already playing it!

PG