Posted 5 years ago
VowelHurry
(2 items)
solovox hohner. what the...u tell me, please? it is an accordion that is built into a cabinet with the Hammond solovox connected with pipes for air to bellow. it is handmade. any info would be much appreciated!!https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOEXDcSzqnacp4EZ7-Ifm5MDprZgIaWGJwxKgfXeiZ0yaiK-mmQt_WWSixIvro38g/photo/AF1QipMxLJwqsMzCq0N4UJsP_8Lic5m7lvJIZGi2Gbj2?key=bGNGRjdfX19uSEFNN0Zaa2pyd0w1c3dfZ1dKclNB
What you've got there is two distinct things that have gotten 'married' together. The HAMMOND SOLOVOX was an electronic instrument built ~1940's-50's (yours appears to be a later 'model L') which was intended to be an "add on accessory" to a(ny) piano which would then provide a limited number of 'organ tones' to the player. They were equipped with a separate 'tiny keyboard' meant to mount underneath either end of an (88 note) piano keyboard.
Your picture link didn't work for me, but by the photos here it looks like someone installed the Solovox keyboard onto a HOHNER melodeon (aka 'reed organ') instead. I cant tell you much of anything about the melodeon, but that it looks like an interesting example...?
thank you. https://photos.app.goo.gl/wZd86iW2i5LQxFRp8
Thanks for the new link VowelHurry -- that gives me a little more to work with. The HOHNER part appears to essentially be an 'accordion built into a cabinet' (instead of the more usual shoulder-strap "squeezebox") but if that's true, it would require some sort of motor/fan/etc mechanism to actually make it operate *unless* there's some variety of pump handle/bellows/etc inside its bottom that I can't see evidence of. *Maybe* that's what the roundish thing in the lower RH corner of your photo collage is...I don't recognize that part at all.
The SOLOVOX part is an entirely electronic device, any sounds it is still capable of producing will come from the speaker in the lower center of its front side. (which you don't show) The underside of its keyboard unit likely also has a 'knee paddle' control gizmo hanging there, I think it functions as a kinda 'volume control'.
EXCELLENT links Keramikos -- thanks for sharing them! :-) That Solovox link is particularly informative and has got me thinking...I've got one of those things banging around here someplace too. I suppose I should dig it out for pics if nothing else...wonder if it still might even *work*??
I would like to offer my sincere gratitude for all the useful knowledge that you guys were willing to share with me. Now that I understand it, I can find a rightful home for it. Thanks again!
oh wow, that is incredibly interesting. thank you for the info. how cool. I think k I might shell out the 17 bucks for an appraisal, since, from a technical standpoint, it might just be one of a one off, folk art instrument. what would you do? your opinion is invaluable to me as I am in the very late stages of a terminal illness and I'm trying to squeeze as much more joy I can squeeze outta this body. so...u think I can drum up some prospective handlers for it. with jovial spirit and mass appreciation, vowel hurry
thanks for the solid advice...dad always said, 'it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it." true true