Meteor
DiatonicÊbutton accordion,
or as we call them in England a melodeonÊ(one note on pull
another on push for same button like a mouth organ or harmonica).
Made in the old communist East Germany (DDR). This is a Meteor
ModelÊ and was in many ways like a Hohner from West Germany
and well engineered but they never had the reputation of the
Hohners. They are now being recognized as good value older
instruments and have a historical value after the unification
of Germany once again.ÊProbably dates from 1970s .
My first melodeon was
a similar one which my Dad brought back in mistake for a concertinaÊ
when he went on a trades union conference in the 60s. That
led me to playing folk music, Êmorris and Irish tunes and
a range of squeezebox styles over the years. That box is still
going strong after a range of owners. The raised plastic lettering
-Meteor -Êwas damaged and removed and left an impression on
the frontÊnear the fingerboard. I have Êleft it for the winner
to decide on whatÊto do, I was going to rub the old glue off
and laquer it with red nail varnish which is the best match
for the red perloid lacquer.
This squeezebox is
aÊnice Êlight ( 2.3 kg) instrument in good condition . 11"
wide , 10" deep, 6" from front to backÊ.It has been little
played andÊis clean and was kept dry.ÊThe originalÊ steel
reeds are clean and all sound. 2 per note giving a slight
tremolo effect. Outer row in C and inner in F good singing
keys. The metal corners of the bellows and the grille are
chrome steel and not oxidised .. The buttons are white plastic
and the fingerboard is black plastic with no cracks.ÊNo brackets,
noÊcase, nice real brown leather wrist and bellows straps
and thumbstrap. Ê
The body is very well
made of light wood with a red perloid finish .ÊThe bellows
are original and very good .TheyÊtookÊa long Êto descend under
their own weight when the melodeonÊwas held verically with
the air button closed . All notes are OK by my electronic
tuner. ÊTheÊ8 bass buutons give notes and chords to go with
C and F melodies . The left hand side gives the "oompah" which
, when you have coordinated both hands and the push pull of
the bellows, gives you an all round instrument. The inside
mechanisms are robust and all work well and are easily accessible
for maintenance work and inspection using normal tools and
this would be a good instrument to learn about the intricacies
of "Zen and the Art of Melodeon Maintenance".
Mike Wild, Sheffield,
UK
