a. steiner harmonika tobaj

[Bobbiejoe101]

Would anyone know anything about this? I cannot find any information on when the company was in business.

[SophieMarie]

Hello,

May I ask how you obtained the accordion and if you have any idea of the age?

A. Steiner Harmonika Erxeuger Tobaj is German for A. Steiner accordion producers Tobaj.  Tobaj is a town in the district of Gussing in the Austrian state of Burgenland. 

The only reference I could find pertaining to A. Steiner and Harmonika was in the following Wikipedia link (German):

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steirische_Harmonika#Albin_Flatscher

The site  provides a good history of accordions and the manufacturers, BUT yours is listed under:  Other harmonica builders whose companies no longer exist and of which no further data are available (as shown below). 

Weitere Harmonikabauer, deren Firmen nicht mehr weiterbestehen und von denen keine weiteren Daten vorhanden sind.

Karl Frey, Amstetten Niederösterreich
Gottfried Kurnig, Deutschlandsberg Steiermark
Hans Polz, Schwertberg Oberösterreich
S. Gert, Voitsberg Steiermark
August Damm Eibiswald Steiermark
A. Steiner Tobaj Burgenland
Josef Hahslacher Möllbrücke Kärnten

Obviously, that is not what you want to hear.  So who is A. Steiner?  If you knew the approximate age and wanted to take things further, you could search on Ancestry.com or another site since you know A. Steiner is from Tobaj Burgenland Austria.  Or there are sites specifically with accordions in mind such as, http://accordions.com/.  Perhaps, you would obtain more age/date related specifics from someone who has knowledge of accordions.

[Bobbiejoe101]

I only know that it was brought from Austria. By eather a great grandfather or a great great grandfather. I have heard it could have been made anytime from the late 1700's through the mid 1800's. That site is the only information I found. I hoped that someone might know more or point me in the right direction.

[SophieMarie]

Thank you.  Dates do help...don't give up yet.  I'm still trying and perhaps someone else will have another idea!

[ghopper1924]

Just going by the decorative motifs alone, I'd say 1870s-1880s. Very cool item!

[mart]

I am not sure it says Steiner !!  Try Heimer !!

[Bobbiejoe101]

There is a beautiful inlay on the back. Such small pieces used.

[ghopper1924]

There is a beautiful inlay on the back. Such small pieces used.

That's what I'm saying. Looks like Victorian marquetry ca. 1870.

[KC]

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MAGNIFICENT PIECE!!!!

I believe this could be a Melodeon that was made by the German company Hohner.  Then sold by music shop in Tobaj.

"Tobaj is first documented in 1428 as Thobajd .
The place belonged - like the entire Burgenland until 1920/21 - to Hungary (German West Hungary). After the end of the First World War, after tough negotiations German West Hungary was awarded in the treaties of contracts of St. Germain and Trianon 1919 Austria. The place belongs since 1921 to the newly founded state of Burgenland."

[Bobbiejoe101]

I was told that it was owned by the grandfather from the time he was a boy. I should do some research on just when he came to the USA.
We also have the wood carrying box.

[SophieMarie]

That would be helpful, thank you!  Will you please take a picture of wood carrying box for us to see?