New accordion

[Ella]

Hi everyone
As the title states, I've recently acquired an accordion. I taught myself to play a few years ago on a 32 bass Galotta, but ended up selling as it got too small. I always intended to buy another, but never did anything about it. Then last week, I was given one by a friend. It was fairly dusty, hadn't been played in a while, with several stuck buttons but I managed to fix those and clean it up and it plays quite nicely. It appears to be a Paolo Soprani, with 120 bass, 41 treble keys, and two registers. I'd like to know if anyone could tell me a bit more about it, like where and what era it was made, what sort of model it is, etc. Also why the need for five couplers on the treble side when there's only three options? Sorry if these are silly questions, I'm still a bit new to accordions lol
Thanks,
Ella

 

[Corinto]

Also why the need for five couplers on the treble side when there's only three options?

Yes, WHY?

 

[Glug]

In theory it makes it easier to reach a particular register switch from different positions on the keyboard.
But it probably also makes the accordion look more expensive ....

 

[Dingo40]

Welcome Ella.
We often see Cumbria featured in various British series on TV, and very nice it is too!??
Your accordion appears to me to be a typical product of sturdy Italian workmanship of accordion manufacture of the late fifties/ early sixties aimed at the lower end of the market, but head and shoulders above what you would get in that price segment these days.
It bears the label of accordiondom's oldest manufacturer and looks in excellent cosmetic shape: a very popular colour.
The exterior is clad in celluloid, which is attractive, but susceptible to heat, so keep away from electric bar radiators and lighted cigarettes ? or it will frizzle!
The reason for more couplers than actual options, in my opinion, is a regrettable matter of sales hype common to accordions in this price range: a form of marketing "puffery". Never mind, it's still a desirable item?.
The three options indicate it has two banks of treble reeds, a high and a middle: quite ample!?
Accordions come in several lengths of keyboard.
Measuring from edge to edge across the white keys it could be anything from 17 to 19 inches.
Get your tape measure and check your's out: I would guess nearer to 17 than 19:. That would make it a "youth's" or "ladies'" model.
If you're handy, you can easily "knock out" the dent in the grille.?

 

[debra]

When you say "cleaned it up", did you remove the keyboard and look underneath?
The enclosed picture shows what you might find, and it explains why some keys then do not move as smoothly as the others...

 

[Scuromondo]

Also why the need for five couplers on the treble side when there's only three options?

My guess is that this is mostly a cost saving measure which allows the manufacturer to use the same grille with this 2-reed model as well as with 3-reed models which really need the five couplers. But usually it is marketed as a way to be able to more easily access the same setting from different keyboard positions.

 

[Ella]

Thanks for the replies, I'll attach pics of the interior in case anyone's interested. It was surprisingly clean inside considering how grimy the outside was, some of the keys were nearly brown with dust. I haven't removed the keyboard, don't know how to do that but the treble keys move fine so there's probably no need. There were two issues with the bass buttons, some of the vertical rods for the diminished row were bent at the top causing a bit of friction. I didn't manage to straighten them perfectly, but everything moves freely now. There was also a problem with a cracked wooden block inside, the whole bar was moving around which was not good as you can imagine. A bit of glue sorted that out though and you can't tell where the crack was now.
As far as size goes, it only measures 17 inches from end to end across the keyboard. Perfect for me really, I wouldn't want it any bigger.

 

[debra]

Looks pretty clean indeed!

 

[JIM D.]

Good find - a late 50's to 60's in great condition. Wish you luck with it. In the same time period Titano (Victoria) made an
identical model in 17" and called it a "Standard" with the same reed options.

Oh, and on that shift machine, it was used for 2 reed LM & 3 reed LMM and LMH models of both makes.

 

[Valski]

Thanks for the replies, I'll attach pics of the interior in case anyone's interested. It was surprisingly clean inside considering how grimy the outside was, some of the keys were nearly brown with dust. I haven't removed the keyboard, don't know how to do that but the treble keys move fine so there's probably no need. There were two issues with the bass buttons, some of the vertical rods for the diminished row were bent at the top causing a bit of friction. I didn't manage to straighten them perfectly, but everything moves freely now. There was also a problem with a cracked wooden block inside, the whole bar was moving around which was not good as you can imagine. A bit of glue sorted that out though and you can't tell where the crack was now.
As far as size goes, it only measures 17 inches from end to end across the keyboard. Perfect for me really, I wouldn't want it any bigger.

It's very impressive that you were able to disassemble the accordion and make those repairs.

 

[Ella]

It's very impressive that you were able to disassemble the accordion and make those repairs.

Thanks ? I did contact the guy who mended my previous accordion so I was just following suggestions really, but I am pleased I managed to fix it.

 

[olivigus]

Hi @Ella Welcome to the forum. What a pretty accordion! And what a great gift from your friend. I predict you'll have many happy hours making music with it, and fun getting to use all those additional keys and bass buttons. And kudos for going in there to fix those little issues. I spent a few days carefully cleaning the gunky bass mechanism on an older accordion (in position--I didn't dare take it apart) and was able to release the sticky buttons--it really does feel good to fix something yourself, and I think it helps you feel more connected to the instrument when you've made it work better. It's like taking the thorn out of the lion's foot--then the lion is your friend for life. (And, yes, I tend to anthropomorphize my accordions...)