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First post, and just ban me outright already if this doesn't bear asking within the scope of any forum here

speedwoof111

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...but is the Grashe and Lumbacker Silver Anniversary Model 2200 an actual and viable musical instrument outside of a few scenes from Family Matters?

thanks for looking, lol.
 
Not exactly an expert on American sitcoms so it took me a while to find somewhere I could look at the episode, but the "Grashe and Lumbacker Silver Anniversary Model 2200" appears to be a Chinese Parrot box. I don't know if they actually had names or numbers, but the Parrots with saxophone mutes/dustbin lids were copies of a Scandalli design from the 1950s. I think this model was essentially made from the 60s to the 90s, maybe even later, so I can't tall you how old it is. Parrots aren't terrible but aren't particularly good either, while their Italian counterparts are very nice instruments! On the other hand, the white box that the woman plays is a 1950s Italian built student model, a typical compact 120 bass accordion of the era with narrow keys and two sets of treble reeds, probably tuned an octave apart. I can't make out the name on the front, but the shape of the coupler switches makes me think it's a Soprani.
 

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Not exactly an expert on American sitcoms so it took me a while to find somewhere I could look at the episode, but the "Grashe and Lumbacker Silver Anniversary Model 2200" appears to be a Chinese Parrot box. I don't know if they actually had names or numbers, but the Parrots with saxophone mutes/dustbin lids were copies of a Scandalli design from the 1950s. I think this model was essentially made from the 60s to the 90s, maybe even later, so I can't tall you how old it is. Parrots aren't terrible but aren't particularly good either, while their Italian counterparts are very nice instruments! On the other hand, the white box that the woman plays is a 1950s Italian built student model, a typical compact 120 bass accordion of the era with narrow keys and two sets of treble reeds, probably tuned an octave apart. I can't make out the name on the front, but the shape of the coupler switches makes me think it's a Soprani.

wow...it is chinese!
jeez, by the looks of it i woulda sworn it was some kinda post-war polka panzer specimen model. i'll have to look up on how those mutes work...always had me wondering what they were and did.

great reply, thanks a lot!
 
...but is the Grashe and Lumbacker Silver Anniversary Model 2200 an actual and viable musical instrument outside of a few scenes from Family Matters?
Haha... that's a brand of accordion called a Scandalli Brevette. Paolo Soprani and some Chinese models look similar, but this is the one that started it all. They've been around for decades and came out in differentt reed/register kinds. If this is the one, they are a good accordion, a real work horse and sound nice if in good condition. This one below is mine, had it since I was a kid and still have it today 60 years later.

Screenshot 2025-07-12 at 1.18.06 PM.png

 
Haha... that's a brand of accordion called a Scandalli Brevette. Paolo Soprani and some Chinese models look similar, but this is the one that started it all. They've been around for decades and came out in differentt reed/register kinds. If this is the one, they are a good accordion, a real work horse and sound nice if in good condition.
Again, I'm certain it's a Chinese copy. The bass keyboard is suspiciously square and all the colours just look a little too nasty to be a Scandalli, plus the trim on the grille - around the name and couplers - isn't like any Scandalli I've ever seen. It looks identical to this one!
1752343864124.png
 
Again, I'm certain it's a Chinese copy. The bass keyboard is suspiciously square and all the colours just look a little too nasty to be a Scandalli, plus the trim on the grille - around the name and couplers - isn't like any Scandalli I've ever seen. It looks identical to this one!
1752343864124.png
Very good chance you are right, the video was not particularly good, and also what I said "if that is the...". I played the Chinese version of one once, had fewer registers no master bar... I was able to get one phrase out of it before I took it off with no real desire to go for the 2nd line in the music... lol

The "real" Brevettes came in many flavours. I've seen them mostly in 3/4 and 4/4 and 4/5 variations. My uncle has one that is 4/5, no master palm switch, mics installed at the factory, and here is the biggest part, no chrome, but gold coloured flaps and bellows corners and shoulder strap mounts. I was eager to play it and when I did, it was definitely a Scandalli, but more weathered than mine. I was hoping it was a pocket Super VI, but not quite... lol
 
i'll have to look up on how those mutes work...always had me wondering what they were and did.
Well, on the real ones, they don't do as much as a real Sordina but they do lower the volume SLIGHTLY and block a LITTLE bit of the higher frequencies... I'd say about 50% as effective as a true Sordina.

On the Chinese models, I'd have to say that it's likely even less effective as their construction is not at the same level.
 
Again, I'm certain it's a Chinese copy. The bass keyboard is suspiciously square and all the colours just look a little too nasty to be a Scandalli, plus the trim on the grille - around the name and couplers - isn't like any Scandalli I've ever seen. It looks identical to this one!
1752343864124.png
The TV studio likely rented the accordions from a local accordion shop. A shop is not likely to rent a very good accordion, especially in a situation with action, because of the possibility of damage. Scandalli is a very good brand worth more than a Parrot. Also accordions are heavy and normally the studio doesn't want the instrument to play and so the reed blocks are removed. I would have called the gal's accordion a Jo Ann Castle Polka Master. Castle was an accomplished accordionist, underappreciated in my opinion. Although neither she nor Myron played white accordions that I've noticed.
 
Haha... that's a brand of accordion called a Scandalli Brevette. Paolo Soprani and some Chinese models look similar, but this is the one that started it all. They've been around for decades and came out in differentt reed/register kinds. If this is the one, they are a good accordion, a real work horse and sound nice if in good condition. This one below is mine, had it since I was a kid and still have it today 60 years later.

Screenshot 2025-07-12 at 1.18.06 PM.png



Most excellent demonstration, sir. Great to hear someone get and give so much enjoyment out of one after doing this bit of research on it. No doubt a quality model in your hands.
 
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