Framed or unframed, desk size to sofa size, printed by us in Arizona and Alabama since 2007. Explore now.
Shorpy is funded by you. Patreon contributors get an ad-free experience.
Learn more.
September 1940. St. Mary's County, Maryland. An uncaptioned photo by John Vachon showing Louise Dyson (last seen here with her husband) and unidentified guest playing Mr. Dyson's ancient accordion. Laissez le bon temps rouler! View full size.
Although of the accordion family, the box would be called a one-row melodeon these days. Unless those ladies are tiny it looks quite big for a one-row. It plays in one major key. Each button plays a different note on push and draw. The mushroom shaped objects should be stops that open and close different reed pads to alter the sound. There should be a thumb strap behind the button row, and the bass side, which can't be seen, probably has two buttons or levers, one for a bass note and one for a bass chord, again a different note/chord on push and draw.
"Another hour of this and I'm going to break that Accordion over her head"
... was later outlawed by the State of Maryland.
In Maryland? Probably more like: Niech dobre czasy!
On Shorpy:
Today’s Top 5