Greetings Apcs_uk:
After a *very* informative conversation with accordion appraiser Steve
Navoyosky (Steve's Accordion Shop, Youngstown, OH 330-332-1111) I
discovered that there is no way (save a thorough examination by an
accordion expert) to completely answer your question online.
Howevever, I hope you will find my research for you acceptable as an
answer. I located Steve's contact information at
http://www.appliedmic.com/dealers.asp and his email is
mailto:snav88@aol.com
Steve Navoyosky has been in the accordion business (repair, appraisal,
etc) for 50 years. He told me that there are many factors that are
included in valuing an accordion, not just the manufacture date and
model. Components of an accordion include wax, wood and leather and
these can be severely affected by climate. If the accordion was not
stored properly, it will devalue the instrument. If dampness reached
the instrument at any time, that may have affected its value. Heat
can damage components as well. Also, if the reeds were replaced with
less expensive ones, this would affect value. He said there might
even be termites in an accordion! As Steve related to me, there are
many qualities about the instrument that must be taken into
consideration for an appropriate value. As he said, he presents "the
whole story" of an accordion. (For the record, Steve's fee for a
complete insurance appraisal is $60.00 and the customer covers the
cost of shipping both ways.)
Steve said that when he receives an accordion for appraisal, he takes
it apart to examine *everything* about the instrument both inside and
out. He also researches the company history and presents to his
customer a complete appraisal and research document accepted by
insurance companies. I then mentioned to him that your account name
included "uk" and that you may be located in the United Kingdom.
Steve gave me two names there for you to contact. He highly
recommended the work of these two gentlemen and said they provided the
same care and attention in an appraisal that he does:
(Robert) Bob Rolston
Rolston Accordions
33 Clydesdale Street
Mossend, Bellshill
Lanarkshire
ML4 2RS
TEL : 01698 733787
FAX : 01698 734703
mailto:Enquiries@accordion.co.uk
Web site: http://www.accordion.co.uk
John Leslie
London
0207 624 9001
**********
Before contacting Steve, I did other online research and located some
Bell history. On the site at
http://www.bellduovox.com/pages/ourcomp.html (complete with some
accordion music, so be prepared for a sound file) there is the history
of Bell Accordion:
"Bell Accordion Company, as it was known, was born and started by
three Accordion Artisans. All three born in Italy, and learning the
art of accordion craftsmanship in Mondaino and Castelfidardo, Italy.
The year was 1947, the address at 13 Laight Street, downtown Manhattan
in New York City, by Aldo Mencaccini, Luigi Galeazzi and Tino
Mencaccini. The company started to make Bell American Accordions and
also Imported a line of accordions from Farfisa in Italy"
If your book reads "1947" you may have one of the first Italian
imports they offered but only an experienced appraiser will know.
On Ebay, two Bells are currently offered and have no bids yet:
http://search-desc.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=bell+accordian&catref=C3&socolumnlayout=3&lotr=1&from=R2&sacategory=16218&sotextsearched=2&BasicSearch=
In the Ebay "Completed Items" search at
http://search-completed.ebay.com/search/search.dll?GetResult&category1=16218&srchdesc=y&lotr=1&from=R2&query=bell+accordian&catref=C3&completedonly=1
you will see that only one sold, for $51.00. You may be able to
peruse any images left on those auctions to compare your model with
what was offered.
*********
If you require any clarification of the links or information I have
presented, please request it before rating and closing this question
and I will be happy to respond. I hope you will contact Steve if you
are in the US because he was so gracious and helpful with my query.
If you are in the UK, I hope you use Steve's recommendations of Bob
Rolston or John Leslie. I hope you are pleased with my research for
you.
Best regards,
journalist-ga
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