In general, the development of accordion family instruments shows consistent evolution from simple to complex physical construction, from elementary to virtuoso musical compositions performable, from basic to highly sophisticated handling and control capabilities.

In the year 1829, Cyril Demian of Vienna, and later Charles Wheatstone of London, were awarded patents to Akkordeon and Concertina musical instruments, respectively. The Demian model, closely related to an 1822 portable tuning device of Friedrich Buschmann, started the development of the Button Diatonic category of accordions. Wheatstone redefined several types of concertinas that led to the development of others and their relatives, the most well known of which is the bandoneon.

By the end of the century, many small accordion companies had evolved; notable among them are the names Soprani, Crucianelli and Dallape. Elaborate abalone inlay was used as ornamentation in wood veneers, and later, in celluloid.

In the 1930s and 1940s, accordion frames were ornamented by lyre-cut ends, colorful celluloid skins, and inset rhinestones. Many still-popular manufacturers became known in the USA. Numbers of keys and buttons became standardized, interest in reed-banks and shifts increases. Manufacturers improved their models based on recommendations and endorsements of early virtuosi, made famous through burlesque houses, vaudeville, and radio.

By the 1950s hundreds of brand names were competing with each other, some which experimented with unusual keyboard styles. Most were relatively short lived, but reflected a worldwide passion for the accordion. Millions were imported to the USA, the major marketplace.

By the 1960s, demand for advanced technological application produced a few instrument models of high sophistication and unusual consistency of tone., notably from the Hohner Company of Germany, a few Italian makers, and Russian bayan production. Development of clear ideals concerning acoustic underlay found expression in the concert instruments, almost exclusively piano and button chromatic accordions. Among concert artists, interest in expansion of musical repertory to include masterworks of polyphonic composition had conventionalized the use of free-bass or convertor instruments their preference remains valid today.

In America, desire for a wider range of sounds resulted in application of electronic circuitry. By the 1980s many generations of electronic developments resulted in MIDI capabilities. Today, electronic instruments may be very lightweight, of any keying system, produce hundreds of sounds and have no reeds!

Accordion production remains varied, carried out in many countries, and the accordion family if instruments remains popular among young and old, among folk-music, pop-rock, jazz, and concert aficionados.