Christian Mensing's Bandoneon - AA Premier

Alfred Arnold "PREMIER"

Label:    "PREMIER"
          MARCA REGISTRADA
          Alfred Arnold - Carlsfeld
          label in golden letters on the belly frame as seen on the
          picture, additional relief stamp with the same text on the
          right handle (players side) and AA circle relief stamp on 
          the same handle (front)
series #: inside left hand cover and belly frame (violet stamp) B35253
          the same on the reedplate #1 of the left side with pencil
          inside right hand cover and belly frame (violet stamp) D35253
Size:     244 x 232 mm (depth by height), 340 mm width with closed belly
Weight:   approx. 5,5 kg
Housing:  plywood, black, relief number 10099 below the fretwork
          (series number of the housing manufacturer?)
          damper case waved (seams to be important to determine the age)
Buttons:  left 36, right 40; makes 152 tones and is an extension
          of the 142 tone system 'rheinische Lage' used at the
          La Plata (bisonoric)
Plates:   zinc, each 2 x 12 reeds; system: 2 chorus, 4 buttons
          of the right hand: 1 chorus (total 296 reeds)
Remarks:  the 5 additional buttons are original, most levers easily
          dismountable, belly (3 x 5 folds) replaced on march 1995

With closed belly B&W JPEG, (70997 bytes), 680x544

With open belly (back side), the two sides bowed to the front B&W JPEG, (87147 bytes), 896x498

With open belly (front side), the two sides bowed to the front B&W JPEG, (100693 bytes), 941x552

Side view (right) B&W JPEG, (78832 bytes), 671x631

Side view (left) B&W JPEG, (69432 bytes), 735x663

Detail of the labels B&W JPEG, (84949 bytes), 736x518

The AA stamp B&W JPEG, (69193 bytes), 736x518

Opened instrument with the sides and the layers with buttons B&W JPEG, (65451 bytes), 717x696

Opened instrument with the two sides and the reed blocks B&W JPEG, (57649 bytes), 717x715

Opened instrument with one sides and one reed block B&W JPEG, (89452 bytes), 741x666

Detail of the reeds and buttons B&W JPEG, (86359 bytes), 760x644

Christian's email adress for further info: e-mail:

DeJean's version created : Sep 30th, 1995