Jan
22
2012
Morino Accordion for Identification
Posted by rbdeli in Accordion Search, tags: Hohner Morino, Morino
This interesting and beautiful accordion was emailed to me by a guy from Quebec. A quick look on eBay does yield some Hohner Accordions with the Morino model name, so perhaps this is an original Venanzio Morino beofore his Hohner days? At any rate, it looks very interesting:
The Owner writes,
Dear Sir,
I would like to get help identifying this accordion and hopefully get an idea of what a collector could pay for it.
It is marked “MORINO Fabt genève”. I saw the name Venanzio Morino (1876 – 1961) who became an important person at Hohner.
It was purchased in an antiques shop near Montreal Quebec.
It is incredibly detailed with tiny little inlaid pieces of hardwood. The bellow is in excellent shape but most buttons are stuck.
I am not a accordeon player yet but would like to know if it is worth investing on.Thank you so much for your time.
If you know of any information such as value, age or anything else about this Morino Accordion, please send us your comments or email me at info@accordionstop.com
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I saw your accordion whilst on google. I can offer you some information.
The instrument was made by V.Morino in Geneve (as you know by the inscription) This was made before he travelled to Hohner in 1928. I estimate manufacture around 1920 in his workshop in the centre of Geneva.
It is a chromatic instrument (different note on the push and pull of the bellows)
It is a well made instrument but will obviously need a full restoration to be playable once more as intended.
I collect and restore old accordions (although my Wife wished I didnt as my collection is growing!!!)
Do you still have the instrument?
Would you like to sell it?
I live in Geneva and am interested in Morino.
A similar one sold this year in Switzerland for 400chf ( about 330euros) – but this was in very good playable condition.
You mention that buttons are sticking – are there many not working or only a few?
You have a nice old accordion and to my mind worth restoring – unfortunately not many people agree with me and often older instruments tend not to be restored to playable condition but sit in cupboards and display shelves.
(It is hard to give you an idea of restoration costs from pictures – usually more than someone is prepared to pay for the finished instrument)
- let me know you have received my information and if you are considering selling it or wish to keep it.
Hello again,
I am still hoping to bring the accordion back to its original home to Geneva, Switzerland but have not heard any news from you.
Please let me know if you wish to sell me the accordion.I would enjoy restoring it back to playable condition.
Hope to hear from you soon and many greetings from Switzerland,
Vince
Hello, I have one accordion, it´s almost the same but mine´s has 4 white pearl button row, instead of three. It is in functioning well. Someone told me it is very more expensive than 330 euro. It was of my grandfather, he was from switzerland, he order this acoordion in 1920 +-, he brought it to mexico when he came in 1922.
Do you know where can I get the real value? I live in mexico.
Hi Patricia,
These are truly wonderful old instruments. Beautifully made and outstanding quality. Morino was one of the very best makers of accordions. The real value is really what someone is prepared to pay for it. In my experience my rough evaluation of the instrument pictured is based on past experience of sales of these instruments. I am not in any way trying to mislead the value of
this instrument as your posting appears to suggest. If your Morino is in good playable condition then it will be worth more. Has it had a recent service? Restoration is a long/expensive process including cleaning,tuning,re-valving etc….
I dont know if you are considering selling as it is a family piece but I suppose the only way to test the value -if you are uncertain as to my estimate – is to put it up for sale at an auction and see where the bidding goes. If you decide to do this I wish you the best of luck at the auction.
(As previously mentioned in my other posting I am interested in old Morino instruments and would enjoy the restoration and bringing them back to Geneva,Switzerland where they were born. If any visitors to this site have any they wish to sell then I may well be interested and will give a fail price for the instrument.
Goodbye for now,
Vince