BELL Accordion- Someone can identify which model is this bell accordion?

[efibau]

Hello. A friend of mine is selling a BELL accordion(picture attached). He says that this is mode call "LADY"
No number model nothing.
Someone hgere can identify by picture what kind of BELL is it?

 

[JIM D.]

Nice looking 3/5 reed bell with a 18" keyboard.
In the US an 18" keyboard is called 'Lady Size' a 19" keyboard is 'Man Sized'.

 

[efibau]

Thank you Jim. What do you mean by 18 or 19 keyboards?

 

[efibau]

OH Sory Jim, you meant 18".
understood tnks.
Can you estimate its price these days?

 

[JIM D.]

Giving an estimate of value from that photo and without inspection will only be a guess.

 

[boxplayer4000]

Bells Accordions, of Surbiton, in England, were one of Britons biggest importers at one time but as far as I know they didn't make their own accordions.. They were big enough to have the makers, such as Hohner, re-badge them with their own name, Bell. The accordion on display here doesn't look like a Hohner and the grille makes me think of a Sonola.
In this politically (crazy) world I wouldn't be surprised if using the term 'lady's model' etc. wasn't punishable with a life sentence.

 

[JIM D.]

The Bell in this Photo is a model made by Aldo Mencaccini of NY New York. It's a 50's vintage. The NY New York bell firm was active until 2006.
In the 70's to 2006 many Bell models were made by Borsini of Italy. Members might find this very informative.----


I was fortunate to meet Aldo at his Long Island in shop 2006. He also mentions the late Emil Baldoni who was one of my mentors
in the 60's.

 

[nagant27]

I always enjoy this video. Pure History that you can experience. Too bad other famous accordion makers didn’t do this, like giulietti or others

I think Aldo set out to make the finest accordion possible, and he did. Some of the older classic bells sound amazing in my opinion. Hard to beat a 2520 or an American made bell.

 

[Eddy Yates]

"Can you estimate its price these days? "
It's worth $25. I'll send it to you right away!

Seriously, if you're trying to sell it, you have to go to the correct section of the forum. No sneaky stuff.

 

[efibau]

Nice looking 3/5 reed bell with a 18" keyboard.
In the US an 18" keyboard is called 'Lady Size' a 19" keyboard is 'Man Sized'.

Are the keyboards in Lady BELL are narrow then normal keyboards width?

 

[debra]

The Bell in this Photo is a model made by Aldo Mencaccini of NY New York. It's a 50's vintage. The NY New York bell firm was active until 2006.
In the 70's to 2006 many Bell models were made by Borsini of Italy.

I always thought that some Bell models were also made by Bugari. (Never heard about Borsini making them.) Now I am confused...

 

[Stephen Hawkins]

Hi Paul,

I have had a little look for Bell Accordions online, and have discovered that they sold Hohner, Paulo Soprani and Galanti Accordions as "Bell Accordions." That doesn't mean that they didn't have other manufacturers supplying them, just that I haven't found them.

Further confusion may arise from the fact that it was their practice to stick "Bells" badges on all the second hand accordions they sold.

Bells sponsored an accordion programme on Radio Luxemburg in the 1950's.

Kind Regards,

Stephen.

 

[dunlustin]

Worth saying that there are two different Bells:
1. The US one JimD mentions
2. The English shop ( Surbiton?) which badged manufacturers' instruments with their brand.
Aside: They were the cause of my first ever accordion confusion - one Soprani twice the price of another just because one had a 'V' and the other a 'P' in its name.

 

[nagant27]

Also to add Scandalli made some Bells as well. The US ones. They are also nice, just like Scandallis. Grills look like classic Bells.

 

[JIM D.]

The Bell Scandalli's at the time were made by the Scandalli division of Farfisa.
Today Scandalli, Farfisa & Paolo Soprani are now division's of Menghini SRL.

 

[Ventura]

here in the Mid-Atlantic area USA 3/5 reed ladies (or student) sized used accordions
are very plentiful still, and even the ones in relatively good shape (immediately playable)
are not in much demand.. especially L M H reed configuration

Even brands and models like this BELL, which were very reliable, built and finished
better than typical comparable models of other brands, are not particularly sought after,
as most people today in the market do not know much about History or even relative quality

If you take it to some regional accordion club meeting (once we get to start meeting again)
you might have a better chance to sell it for a decent price (a few hundred dollars IMHO) as
the people will be slightly better informed in general and have an ear for a nicer sound

Bell accordions, like Excelsior, were dependable and gave you a lot of value
for your money, and as used instruments, are generally a better risk than
most other brands

your model was also very common in a cream color rather than the Black

ciao

Ventura

 

[efibau]

Thank you Ventura, it was quit good answer