Excelsior Symphony Grand (USA) Model Number?

[Alan Polivka]

John, I totally understand and appreciate your candor. It's amazing to me that rocker boxes are not more popular, because they are basically the same accordion as an early Symphony Grand (except for one less set of LH reeds). If a person practices shifting with rocker switches, they can become easy to use ... it just requires a small amount of practice at shifting. But either that unwillingness to practice shifting or the cosmetic appeal of seeing a lot of shifts on a grill seems to have deterred most folks from using rocker boxes anymore. Consequently, it's easy to acquire a Symphony Grand quality instrument for less then $1,000 today. I'm happy to take advantage of that.

 

[Alan Polivka]

I have heard varying stories about the reeds in Excelsior accordions made in the USA during the 1950s and early 1960s. Originally, the reeds in Excelsior accordions were made in the New York City. When Excelsior's accordion production shifted to Italy in the 1960s, they had a big, complete factory in Castelfidardo (which I visited around 2010, after Excelsior production transitioned to Pigini's facility, which I also visited). My question for anybody who might know is, was there a time period (e.g., sometime in the 1950s and early in 1960s) when Excelsior accordions (Symphony, Symphony Grand, and/or AC models) were assembled in the USA but the reeds (and possibly other parts) came from Italy?