Gretsch La Tosca?

[trek4fr]

Can anyone tell me anything about this manufacturer and model?

It is a Gretsch La Tosca Biviano 98.

It has 3/5 reeds in it. LMM. Obviously a 41/120 with a 19.25 keyboard.
I have no idea how old this is. Can anyone tell from the pic?

Thanks.

http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx76/bill0689/023_zpsfpy2v0ze.jpg>

 

[JIM D.]

The La Tosca line of Gretsch accordions were well made Italian imports. The grill design on your accordion was used from the 50s to the early 70s.
Some info here --
http://blog.gretsch.com/gretsch-130-years-and-four-generations/2013/04/

 

[landro]

Any info on what company made their accordion in Italy?

 

[trek4fr]

Landro, an accordion-playing friend of mine told me yesterday that he thinks that Sonola made the accordion. I found another model of a Gretsch La Tosca that was set up for jazz and it had a Sonola ID. Gretsch nowadays is known for their guitars and drums. But they seem to have had a good reputation at one time for their accordions. I found a couple of pictures of Charles Magnante playing a higher end model of a La Tosca. Now THERE is an accordionist!

This one is in really good shape with the reeds and leathers and wax all being intact. Looks like it will be a good addition to my accordion family. One can never have too many accordions, you know.

 

[nagant27]

The magnante la tosca I believe is the model called eldorado. It is a double tone chamber high end accordion. I've seen magnante pictures of him with it and of course excelsiors. I think there was an actual line of accordions called magnante as well that were of high quality too.

 

[landro]

Landro, an accordion-playing friend of mine told me yesterday that he thinks that Sonola made the accordion. I found another model of a Gretsch La Tosca that was set up for jazz and it had a Sonola ID. Gretsch nowadays is known for their guitars and drums. But they seem to have had a good reputation at one time for their accordions. I found a couple of pictures of Charles Magnante playing a higher end model of a La Tosca. Now THERE is an accordionist!

This one is in really good shape with the reeds and leathers and wax all being intact. Looks like it will be a good addition to my accordion family. One can never have too many accordions, you know.

It sure looks good. I`ve seen them up close before and I always liked that particular era La Tosca design. I recall they were well made.

 

[trek4fr]

Heres a couple of pics of the reed blocks:

http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx76/bill0689/LaTosca16_zps2gwmnppd.jpg>

and:

http://i743.photobucket.com/albums/xx76/bill0689/LaTosca14_zpsnvduywpq.jpg>