When I featured a fake accordion containing a hidden mini-disc player back in June in caused a bit of a stir. What a cheat ! We all thought.
We it seems this type of thing is nothing new.
This is a Tanzbar player accordion from between 1900-1930. It uses paper rolls instead of mini-discs and I guess you had to squeeze the bellows to get it to play (let me know if I'm wrong about this bit).
This one came with 16 rolls and sold for exactly $500 US on Ebay (£265). Compare this with the $1595 for the mini-disc player... I know which I prefer.
Previously on Squeezytunes: Accordion Mini-disc Player
Hi,I was the buyer of this Tanzbär. It was in almost perfect condition, with 16 tunes (rolls) ranging from John Philip Sousa's El Capitan to Donauwellen by Iosif Ivanovici. Yes, you have to squeeze or pull the bellows, the sound is made just as with an ordinary concertina. In addition you pull a handle that makes the rolls turn. It is very difficult to keep a steady tempo. The buttons are fake.
This is one item of my collection of about 150 free reed instruments, including about 30 bandoneons/German concertinas and 6 flutinas/French accordeons. I am a medical doctor, but my hobby is to restore and tune bandoneons.
Congratulations with a fantastic blog! I am in the process of making one myself, and I'll come back to you when it is up and running.
Olaf G Aasland, Norway
Posted by: Olaf Gjerløw Aasland | December 12, 2006 at 12:59 PM
Wow, great to hear from you Olaf, and thanks for your first hand information about the Tanzbär.
I hope you get your blog running soon, I'd love to see some photos of your collection.
Posted by: Squeezyboy | December 12, 2006 at 08:25 PM
A friend brought a tanzbar to our monthly Vancouver accordion circle and we all got to play around with it. He opened it up and we got to see the paper music roles and all.
I love the fake buttons ("Hope the rest of the band doesn't notice.") and it was hard to pump the bellows while thumbing the lever that spun the music roll on kind of a flywheel thing. Tricky. And then you have to change rolls after each song? Might as well learn to play. Except I guess you could learn the technique once, and then play any roll.
Best part of these "player" instruments for me is that they had actual people like Scott Joplin sit and play the machine that punched the paper-holes, so they're actual recordings of the artists who made them. Cool. Wonder who played the one we had?
Posted by: Bruce Triggs | July 02, 2007 at 02:36 AM
Thanks for the report on what it's like to play with one Bruce. I've only ever seen pictures of them myself.
Posted by: Squeezyboy | July 14, 2007 at 08:53 PM
Thanks for the info I learned some new things by reading it
Posted by: Jack Hotchkiss | August 11, 2008 at 02:49 AM
I have a Tanzbar player accordion, wondering wat the worth would be?
Posted by: Colt Hogstrom | December 16, 2008 at 07:54 AM
Hi Colt,
A lot depends on the condition. The one above was in almost perfect condition, and went for quite a lot of money - but not overly expensive.
If it is out of tune, or broken then the value will reduce dramatically.
Posted by: Squeezyboy | January 07, 2009 at 09:56 PM
I have a Tanzbar it is in good condition also I have 15 rolls that I would like to sell
Posted by: Carmen Kwolek | February 06, 2009 at 04:52 PM
I am the owner of a original Tanzbar from around 1900. My problem is that I do not know where I can buy other rolls since I have only 1. I would be grateful if anyone could supply me with this information.
Thanks in advance for anwering.
Herman Kiek.
Posted by: herman Kiek | April 14, 2009 at 08:19 PM
I forgot to mention that the paper rolls my Tanzbar is using has a diameter of 6.3cm, including the reel it is 7.0cm and the maximum no. of holes broadwise is 16.
Thanks.
Herman Kiek.
Posted by: herman Kiek | April 14, 2009 at 08:30 PM
I am very interested to buy a Tanzbar. How is it possible?
Marc
Posted by: Marc Schoene | May 18, 2009 at 05:09 PM
These are quite rare I think, but there is one on Ebay at the moment in Australia.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/TANZBAR-RARE-BUTTON-ROLL-ACCORDION-COLLECTABLE-ANTIQUE_W0QQitemZ180356956420QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090516?IMSfp=TL090516123001r8021
Good luck
Posted by: Squeezyboy | May 19, 2009 at 12:02 AM
I have one we recently discovered. It is in good shape and has 6 rolls.
Posted by: Frank Rush | June 27, 2009 at 06:35 PM
Oh my goodness!! We just went through some old family members house cleaning it out and we found one of these. I thought I would just try to google it to see what I could find. What am I to do with this thing?
Posted by: Pam Smith | August 15, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Don't attempt to fix it up, or even clean it. I imagine it would be easy to damage these things.
If you want to sell it, then Ebay would be a good choice, although I wouldn't rule out taking it to a proper auction house.
Posted by: Squeezyboy | August 22, 2009 at 03:53 PM
Hi,I am looking for a tanzbar in working order ,Iff you have please take contakt.
Thanks
Posted by: Dario Tack | November 14, 2009 at 09:52 AM