I recently came across this old Hohner accordion. It has no serial number and based on the history of an earlier owner it could have been made in the 1920s. It still plays and has the same button layout as the modern Corona, but has the form of the modern Folk Line series. Any idea what model it is?
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No problem, I’ve got two of them myself - as well as the 2-row versions in both black, and white.
It’s often referred to as “the Laurel Wreath model” these days, but the official Hohner description of them in “Catalogue No 700 of Hohner, Koch, Kalbe, Gessner and Regal Accordeons“ (circa 1930, after the completion of their takeover of Trossingen rivals Koch) was “Italian models with simple decoration and Hohner keyboard.”
In that catalogue it’s described as “No. 3522 1/2 /31/12. Size 12 1/4 x 7 1/8 inches, 31 keys, 12 basses, black polished case with shoulder straps etc.”
Later catalogues show that they were still being produced in 1938,in both 2-voice, and 3-voice versions.
I forwarded your enquiry to Accordion Service, we’ll see what they have to say
Steve
Wow, most informative. Thanks Stephen!
Thanks, Stephen. The instrument has been played now and I have been given the following information:
Keyboard layout probably Irish D/C#. Chromatic so you can play any key. Tuned in a Richter layout similar to many Harmonica’s. The 3rd row is made up of accidental notes.
What would the keyboard layout look like?
Brian
Hi Brian,
Hohner Accordion Service says this is a 3-row diatonic accordion of the Wiener series No.3522 ½ /31/12/2 or 3. It was the pre-predecessor of today’s Corona models and was produced from the 1920s - 1940s. As these instruments don’t have serial numbers, it’s not possible to date it more accurately. Hope this helps,
Steve
Here’s a page from the catalogue listing that model, which then cost the princely sum of 71 Reichsmarks:
Sorry but I only just discovered your reply Brian.
D/C# is an Irish-American 2-row system, with D on the outside row and C# on the inside, but in Ireland we use C#/D, with C# on the outside row and D on the inside, whilst the two 3-rows that I have are in C/C#/D.
You get a third row of accidental notes on Club Model accordions, but they’re in C/F or Bb/Eb.