Older Soprani register names?

[AccordionUprising]

I've got an older Paolo Soprani, maybe 1940s? I'm trying to decipher the register names and wonder if anybody has a idea of what they mean?

The treble side has nine switches labelled: Organo, Fagotto, Bandon, Concert, Master, Celest,"Viol.Cello", Violino, Flauto.

I expected there to be repeated registers, but it looks like each one is different. Is there a master-list of old Soprani classifications? I feel like I've seen one somewhere but can't find it.

It seems like it could be a nice instrument. Needs tuning and such, I haven't opened it up to see what else. I'm going to offer it to a friend who wants to try out the accordion (they're a keyboard player). It may end up being worth fixing for them.

 

[Soulsaver]

Lets start with I don't know for sure... but
Organo, Fagotto, Bandon, Concert, Master, Celest,"Viol.Cello", Violino, Flauto.
It'll be 4 voice. LMMH
Opinion differ on these, as do makers and may have changed over time - but this is my take, in confident-to-less so' order
Faggotto- Basson - L
Bandon - Bandoneon LM
Organo - Organ LH
Flauto - Piccolo - H
Master - LMMH

I could be corrected, but I think those are pretty certain. Then it becomes murkier:
Celest - MM
Violin - (M)MH
Concert - Harmonium - LMH
Leaving Viola unaccounted for; I'm fairly sure there would be an option of a single middle reed which if named today would be Clarinet; , so M for Viola Cello - Clarinet?

 

[Nuuksu]

Maybe LMM is viola?

 

[JIM D.]

(MM) Violin (MH) Celest and that Viol.celest would be the out of tune (M) and (H)

 

[Soulsaver]

(MM) Violin (MH) Celest and that Viol.celest would be the out of tune (M) and (H)

First go was from memory, and now at least have agree Jims MM for violin - after playing my Guerrini and noticing its MM labeled as such.
But that leaves no option for LMM per Nuuks post (which Im inclined to favour over my original Viola guess).
Nor a single middle reed option.
In modern times that would be unusual, ... was it not then?

 

[Nuuksu]

I have an old accordion with also very different names for nowdays instrument. It comes from argentina, so I think names are also spain language origin. Instrument I think is made by Excelsior. At least made in Italy is wrote on back side.

 

[AccordionUprising]

So funny the lack of standardization still causes confusion all these years later. I can see why Galla-Rini and them pushed for the little dots rather than these colourful but variable names.

This is what the Soprani looks like. What do you think? 1940s? Im happy to be corrected. (I know its not the most helpful picture. I can take more if youre curious.)

[thumbnail]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/6337788/Mystery Soprani.jpg[/thumbnail]

 

[donn]

Leaving Viola unaccounted for; Im fairly sure there would be an option of a single middle reed which if named today would be Clarinet; , so M for Viola Cello - Clarinet?

Might help to consider that Viol.Cello is just a longer than usual abbreviation for violoncello, these days commonly known as just cello. The cellos compass is somewhat similar to bassoon, but maybe the more strident timbre would suggest a combination with a higher reed.

My accordion doesnt have any labels at all for the reed combinations. The mechanism is behind the keyboard anyway, so labels would be out of sight. You just have to go by what it sounds like, which I guess would be one way to find out what those rocker switches do -- squeeze the accordion and listen to what comes out?

 

[AccordionUprising]

Ok, I did my due diligence and figured out the registers by ear.

From the top of the accordion towards the bottom:

Flauto = mid
Violino = high
Viol.Cello = low
Celest = mid-mid (two-reed "musette")
Master = low-mid-mid-high
Concert = mid-high
Bandon (Presumably Bandoneon) = low-mid
Fagotto = low-high
Organo = low-mid-high

Amazing how little these match with expectations above.
Makes me imagine the scene in the factory: "We've got left over switches, just put them on wherever."
Inspiration for the good idea to standardize the labelling to tell what the reed combinations actually are (with the little dots) rather than inconsistent made up names.

Anybody have a guess as to when this might have been made? I'm still thinking 1940s.

 

[kimric]

I have one with the register marked Sax, I think it it the Bassoon reed with the wet Clarinet reed.