Dingo40
Been here for ages!
They who made it and those who have the name today are not the same people!
Scandalli Super VI Barn find.
- Thread starter belsmith
- Start date
So true Dingo.They who made it and those who have the name today are not the same people!
Italian accordion companies are notoriously inefficient/lackadaisical with respect to their approach to paperwork/information on their product... However, this seems to be such a unique instrument I feel sure the current Scandalli President would be very interested...perhaps try a personal email, addressed directly to Mirco Patarini and see what response you may get? If none, please let me know and I'll fill him in on his personal account...No promises, but I'd be surprised if he doesn't want to know more.Hi, waiting for restoration. The workshop has been crazy busy with some big jobs. Exciting and very happy customers. Once there is a bit more time, Tony will start on it.
We contacted Scandali direct and got a form letter reply. So then I sent some photos and got exactly the same reply. Basically Nada, they didn't seam interested. I got the impression that no one really even looked at it.
We will let you know when work starts on it. We have found a professional player who will do a video when it is completed.
I did wonder about that. I actually sent my email twice (two different email addresses) hoping someone else would get the second one. I will see if i can contact him directly. Thanks for your encouragement. I will contact you if no luck.
JudyKimp
Member
Very cool find!!!
Thanks Judy.
A few days ago I picked up a case, it smelled BAD, only use I saw for it was as a torture device… lol
I had nothing to lose so first thing I did was have me and my mom smell it and give it a rating. I then LITERALLY took my power washer, used a softer nozzle and sprayed, soaped (using car grade soap with degreaser!), scrubbed with a brush, rinse it, smelled it again, another dosing of higher pressure water and more soap, another bigger more intense scrubbing and finished off with a big rinsing and removing most of the water using an extractor that I use to suck/vacuum out water from my car’s carpets… 50% improvement in 30 minutes.
I’ve left it outside in the sun when it wasn’t raining now about 3 days, but when it rains, brought it in, closed it after tossing in 6 of those dryer sheets in it and putting it out every chance I get.
It’s down to about 25% of being as bad as it was, but I feel it will take a long time to get that last 25% out, if ever… work in progress.
I had nothing to lose so first thing I did was have me and my mom smell it and give it a rating. I then LITERALLY took my power washer, used a softer nozzle and sprayed, soaped (using car grade soap with degreaser!), scrubbed with a brush, rinse it, smelled it again, another dosing of higher pressure water and more soap, another bigger more intense scrubbing and finished off with a big rinsing and removing most of the water using an extractor that I use to suck/vacuum out water from my car’s carpets… 50% improvement in 30 minutes.
I’ve left it outside in the sun when it wasn’t raining now about 3 days, but when it rains, brought it in, closed it after tossing in 6 of those dryer sheets in it and putting it out every chance I get.
It’s down to about 25% of being as bad as it was, but I feel it will take a long time to get that last 25% out, if ever… work in progress.
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
Sounds like "the Smelly car" episode in Seinfeld!
See here:
The Smelly Car - Wikipedia
Good to hear that some progress is possible. When it's completely dry it may be worth trying 1) putting a bag of baking soda in the case and let it soak up smells for a month or so. Then perhaps 2) repeating this with ground coffee. I heard a recommendation to use spent ground coffee, not because it has already done what it was intended for (brew coffee) but because it is more ready to absorb a new smell than fresh ground coffee. And after all of that maybe 3) spray the inside with a fabric freshener (Febreze or something).A few days ago I picked up a case, it smelled BAD, only use I saw for it was as a torture device… lol
...
It’s down to about 25% of being as bad as it was, but I feel it will take a long time to get that last 25% out, if ever… work in progress.
I think that some mold had to have been under the interior felt covering, soaking it up with baking soda would not directly get rid of the source of the issue, but it may be used later on near the end where only a bit of the smell is left over. I'll give it another good soaking or really what I have found that gives visible improvements it letting it sit in the sun on my patio at the back of the house.
Used grains of coffee... hmmmm, maybe not in this case, especially "used" coffee grounds, as it has it's own smells but more importantly, it may stain the case.
Restoration to start on the Super VI over Christmas. Looking forward to hearing it in its full glory.
In the meantime we have a Settimio Soprani piano accordion on market place.
Hope you all have a great Christmas filled with music and merrymaking.
In the meantime we have a Settimio Soprani piano accordion on market place.
Hope you all have a great Christmas filled with music and merrymaking.
20 December 2024:
Restoration of the red vintage Scandalli Super VI piano accordion (#225-937) has begun.
It has a new leather bass strap and base feet. They were missing/unusable.
The old microphone system and wiring (rusted, unusable) has been removed.
Next: the original bellows will be cleaned and de-odourised; and the reeds will be re-valved. And reed plates waxed in.
All original parts will be kept. Any disintegrating accessories such as leather straps, valves, pallets etc will be replaced with top quality replacement parts - made in Italy.
The original reeds will be kept and tuned.
This work is being undertaken by Tony Peri from Reedworks in Sydney, Australia.
Restoration of the red vintage Scandalli Super VI piano accordion (#225-937) has begun.
It has a new leather bass strap and base feet. They were missing/unusable.
The old microphone system and wiring (rusted, unusable) has been removed.
Next: the original bellows will be cleaned and de-odourised; and the reeds will be re-valved. And reed plates waxed in.
All original parts will be kept. Any disintegrating accessories such as leather straps, valves, pallets etc will be replaced with top quality replacement parts - made in Italy.
The original reeds will be kept and tuned.
This work is being undertaken by Tony Peri from Reedworks in Sydney, Australia.
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Alan Polivka
Active member
You can learn more about the Super VI from the book:
https://www.libertybellows.com/shop...---Una-Fisarmonica-Nella-Storia-x53770239.htm
Note that it's mostly written in Italian, but there is a condensed summary in English, German and Slovenian.
Thanks have had a look but out of stock at LB and Reverb. Have found a summary of Scandalli on line and off down rabbit holes again.
Dec 28 2024
The Super VI was totally unplayable when we received it.
Upon servicing the coupler switches, a major problem was found with the Scandalli Super VI - two of the slides in the top and Cassotto section were completely seized up and stuck tight.
The keyboard has been completely dismantled, the slides freed up, coupler switches cleaned and serviced. Keyboard top has been cleaned and polished. New felt installed under the keys. Pallets inspected and regulated and keyboard reassembled.
Master palm switch and couplers and slides all working smoothly now. All keys level and working smoothly.
The Super VI was totally unplayable when we received it.
Upon servicing the coupler switches, a major problem was found with the Scandalli Super VI - two of the slides in the top and Cassotto section were completely seized up and stuck tight.
The keyboard has been completely dismantled, the slides freed up, coupler switches cleaned and serviced. Keyboard top has been cleaned and polished. New felt installed under the keys. Pallets inspected and regulated and keyboard reassembled.
Master palm switch and couplers and slides all working smoothly now. All keys level and working smoothly.
Attachments
Restoring such an old beauty is a work of love, but it is a tremendous job! With such a lovely accordion it is certainly worth the time, money and effort....
The keyboard has been completely dismantled, the slides freed up, coupler switches cleaned and serviced. Keyboard top has been cleaned and polished. New felt installed under the keys. Pallets inspected and regulated and keyboard reassembled.
Master palm switch and couplers and slides all working smoothly now. All keys level and working smoothly.
Tremendous amount of work - awesome job.Dec 28 2024
The Super VI was totally unplayable when we received it.
Upon servicing the coupler switches, a major problem was found with the Scandalli Super VI - two of the slides in the top and Cassotto section were completely seized up and stuck tight.
The keyboard has been completely dismantled, the slides freed up, coupler switches cleaned and serviced. Keyboard top has been cleaned and polished. New felt installed under the keys. Pallets inspected and regulated and keyboard reassembled.
Master palm switch and couplers and slides all working smoothly now. All keys level and working smoothly.
Hope on day we can listen a sound demo.
We can't wait to hear it eitherTremendous amount of work - awesome job.
Hope on day we can listen a sound demo.
We will make a demo video once it is finished and post it here. We have a professional player who will put it through its paces. Still a lot of work to be done.Thanks Debra, Tony is enjoying the challenge,, restoring it with its integrity intact.
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The grill top now has new keyboard felt, and the coupler switches are all working. New grill cloth has been installed and new leather bellows straps (which were missing), installed.
We now have cleaned and re-valved every reed on the piano side. The bass reeds and chord reeds are today, also being individually cleaned and re-valved with leather valves. The old wax has been removed as well, with new accordion wax (from Italy) being used to set the reeds correctly, ready for tuning.
So far, Tony has spent 40 hours of work repairing and restoring the accordion.
We now have cleaned and re-valved every reed on the piano side. The bass reeds and chord reeds are today, also being individually cleaned and re-valved with leather valves. The old wax has been removed as well, with new accordion wax (from Italy) being used to set the reeds correctly, ready for tuning.
So far, Tony has spent 40 hours of work repairing and restoring the accordion.
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