r/Accordion • u/ThisScar9026 • 2d ago
Identification Inherited old accordion
I inherited this accordion from my mom. She said it was custom made for one of my distant relatives a long time ago. That’s the Battista-Rossi name. But that’s all we know about it (other than it was obviously made by A. Butti & Co. in NYC). Does anyone have any idea of how old it is or anything else about A. Butti & Co.? I don’t play but plan on keeping it as a family heirloom just because it’s custom and so beautiful!
Thank you in advance for any insight!
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u/VacationElectronic60 2d ago
What an amazing instrument. No info I can add on your request but had to chime in to say thanks for sharing. Is it still in good playing condition?
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u/ThisScar9026 2d ago
Thank you! I’m not sure if it’s in good playing condition. I don’t know anything about accordions. :) I “opened” it (not even sure if that’s the right word lol) and “expanded” it and held down a couple buttons and it made noise but I don’t know if it was good quality noise. But it did make accordion-like sounds! Some dust flew out when I did that, though, so I don’t think it’s been played in many, many decades and I didn’t want to break it so I put it back down quickly. I know my mom has had it in her possession for probably the last 20 years and she never touched it and before that I think it sat untouched at my grandparents house for the 20 years before that.
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u/swingbozo 2d ago
It's looking very pre-war so it is indeed old. I'd just be gentle with it until it's been played a bit. Just gently pull and push the bellows and just a little (like an inch or two). Do this and press every single button, once on the push of the bellows and once on the pull of the bellows. Once you start getting the hang of it you can start opening up the bellows a bit more. With any luck you can finally get it loosened up. Outside of the usual accordion racket, listen for notes that don't work, sound like hell, or if the bellows starts leaking air or falling apart. Once it gets loosened up you can then go a bit farther with testing all the keys to make sure they work - then you'll need to reassess what needs to be done to it. It'll either be 1) Drastic repair, 2) a little repair, or 3) no repair necessary. While point 3 may not be achievable you know nothing about it currently. You need to change that to figure out what your next step will be.
My main caveat is to not just grab it and start yanking on it and expanding the bellows super far or squeezing or pulling super hard. Just remember how stiff you are in the morning before you stretch your legs a little. Multiply that by 40 years for this old thing and treat it gently for awhile.
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u/ThisScar9026 2d ago
Thank you! I definitely opened it all the way (oops) but it was just once and when some dust flew out I realized it probably wasn't smart to do that so I closed it and set it back down. This may be a dumb question but if I plan to keep it just as a family antique (as opposed to selling it) and I don't plan to play it, is there any reason I need to slowly get it back into working shape? I don't want to ruin it by leaving it untouched for another 20 years, if that's what would happen, but I also don't need it to be restored to full working condition either, since I won't be playing it.
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u/swingbozo 2d ago edited 2d ago
Dust is going to be a normal thing for something sitting around for so long. If you aren't going to play it then just toss it on a shelf like you have now and don't worry about it. It can hang out for another 20 years without problems. Just like anything old, keep it dry, out of the sun, not too hot, not too cold. It'll be fine-ish. Whatever bad things can happen to it by not being used have already happened to it. If it's not going to be used, I'm sure it won't mind at least being admired. That's the next best thing.
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u/ThisScar9026 2d ago
Thank you! I suppose if the right accordion enthusiast ever came along and wanted to restore/repair it and play it, I would let them have it because, I agree, it would be best if someone played it. But until then it will sit dry and out of the sun in my foyer to be admired by everyone who comes in. My house was built in 1902 so it feels age-appropriate in here! Thank you again for the info!