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Guess what?! I have an accordion :-)

Hate to say that I disagree with the curator of an accordion museum specialising in early instruments, but I think he's wrong. Italian boxes with wooden grilles seem to very uncommon compared to those with metal, and from what I gather metal grilles and metal button panels seem to often come together. Plus, I have evidence >:)


How similar is this to your box?
Hi again SBOD ... fairly similar.
Same ("Belgian"?) type obviously, with the keyboard-side cover having a broadly similar pattern to mine on the other side, but a more basic "holes in a board" cover opposite.
My card cover repair looks to be in place of a smaller ply cover (where it has a "made in Italy" label) .....
I don't think there's any real disagreement.
To be fair to our afficionado I've pasted in his full and prompt reply below ... it seems to boil down to whether this box is just pre, or just post, the point at which metal became the norm?
Maybe @Jose EB5AGV has some dated samples of similar "in-vogue" inlay patterns?
As far as my restoration input goes, I'm more familiar with wood than metal, so if I get the time that would probably be it!

This is what Beat sent: (capital lettering added by me to underline that Beat was not being dogmatic!)


"Hi Mike,

Thank you for your inquiry,

The Pad-panels from early Crucianelli ... or Castelfidardo-instruments (like yours 1910- 1915 ?) MIGHT be made of cut plywood scroll saw work (like the bass-end panel). OFTEN these pad-panels also are curved, slightly shaped. Like this: Cav. Settimio Soprani Castelfidardo ca 1914 – AKKORDEON MUSEUM – "Sammlung historische Handharmonika 1830 – 1945"

Later pad-panels were OFTEN made of nickel-plated brass and sawed. Like this: Cav. Sante Crucianelli, Castelfidardo, Italia, B-Griff, Bass ist Rückwärts, MMMM – AKKORDEON MUSEUM – "Sammlung historische Handharmonika 1830 – 1945"

or this Quagliardi Orlando e Figli, LA MODERNA, Castelfidardo Italia, ca 1925 (293) – AKKORDEON MUSEUM – "Sammlung historische Handharmonika 1830 – 1945"

More later instruments have more "industrial" panels, which were used by several makers (Paolo Soprani and others) and were produced by specific factories. For ex: Cav. Sante Crucianelli, Castelfidardo, Italia, ca 1920 (?) – AKKORDEON MUSEUM – "Sammlung historische Handharmonika 1830 – 1945"

To your instrument fits best (FOLLOWING MY EXPERIENCES) : Cav. Settimio Soprani Castelfidardo ca 1914 – AKKORDEON MUSEUM – "Sammlung historische Handharmonika 1830 – 1945"

second best: Cav. Sante Crucianelli, Castelfidardo, Italia, B-Griff, Bass ist Rückwärts, MMMM – AKKORDEON MUSEUM – "Sammlung historische Handharmonika 1830 – 1945" or Quagliardi Orlando e Figli, LA MODERNA, Castelfidardo Italia, ca 1925 (293) – AKKORDEON MUSEUM – "Sammlung historische Handharmonika 1830 – 1945"

Best regards, Beat."

.... and yes, I'm Mike! 😀
 
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What a happy, fun thread Onemoreproject.

Keep us posted on your project as it progresses.
Thanks!
I always feel positive when rescuing something (or someone 😏)
There are bound to be some "pauses" along the way though ... I have a habit of starting things before other things are finished.
The selfbuild extension and re-model/refurb of the house we have lived in for 22 years is still not quite there ...........
My poor wife 🤭
 
"I have a habit of starting things before other things are finished."
Join the clan of "The Busy Minds" who, when they can see their way to the completion of a project, immediatey lose interest ;)
 
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