Scandalli Super VI Barn find.

[belsmith]

Hi, i have a Scandalli Super VI and can't find anything about it online.
It's red with rhinestone detail on the grill and around other areas. It also has a pickup in it (non insulated).
Four reed block LMMH
41 keys, 120 bass
? Serial number on the grill 225 937
Red tape with blue bellows
The back plate where the model number usually is is blank.
Any ideas? Information. I am curious?
Have attached a couple of photos.

 

[Walker]

What we have here is a rare musical treasure, put simply, it's incredible. This accordion is an early 1950s Super VI 4S model, known for its "S" shaped decorations on the grill.

Now, if I go back for a moment and explain... the most famous versions of the Scandalli Super VI were the M series that was produced between the late 1950s to early 1960s and the N series that continue until around 1969. Both the M and N had 11 bass switches and a bass separator switch. However, your accordion is older and it has 6 bass switches. This might be an L series.

I have not seen a vintage Scandalli Super VI in red celluloid and encrusted in crystals before. They are normally plain black with no crystal adornment. What you have here is an outstanding jewel of an accordion - accordions don't get better than a vintage Super VI and this is even more extraordinary because of its customisation.

If it were mine I'd take it to Italy to be restored to its full glory... but it won't be cheap to do it right. Have you shown any photo's to Scandalli to see if they can give more information about it?

I'm so impressed with it I would like to ask your permission to have a copy of one of the photo's? (I think I might ask Scandalli to make me one with a similar look - with stars beside the treble couplers ). If Willie Wonka made accordions instead of chocolate, I think it might have looked something like this!​

 

[dak]

I would advise against visiting that barn at night.

 

[tcabot]

I want your barn.

 

[belsmith]

What we have here is a rare musical treasure, put simply, it's incredible. This accordion is an early 1950s Super VI 4S model, known for its "S" shaped decorations on the grill.

Now, if I go back for a moment and explain... the most famous versions of the Scandalli Super VI were the M series that was produced between the late 1950s to early 1960s and the N series that continue until around 1969. Both the M and N had 11 bass switches and a bass separator switch. However, your accordion is older and it has 6 bass switches. This might be an L series.

I have not seen a vintage Scandalli Super VI in red celluloid and encrusted in crystals before. They are normally plain black with no crystal adornment. What you have here is an outstanding jewel of an accordion - accordions don't get better than a vintage Super VI and this is even more extraordinary because of its customisation.

If it were mine I'd take it to Italy to be restored to its full glory... but it won't be cheap to do it right. Have you shown any photo's to Scandalli to see if they can give more information about it?

I'm so impressed with it I would like to ask your permission to have a copy of one of the photo's? (I think I might ask Scandalli to make me one with a similar look - with stars beside the treble couplers ). If Willie Wonka made accordions instead of chocolate, I think it might have looked something like this!​

Hi Walker, thanks so much for this info. A good tip about contacting Scandalli. Your obvious appreciappreciation for this beautiful instrument is exciting. I'm looking forward to finding out more about it.

 

[belsmith]

Indeed!

One can only imagine the treasure contained in some people's barns or lofts...

I couldn't believe my eyes when I first looked at the thread this morning and saw THAT accordion. I've not been so delighted since, erm... I discovered Leonardo da Vinci designed the first piano accordion over 500 years ago... so, that's kinda less than a week ago... okay, bad example.

Thing is, I often wonder about the STORY behind these incredible items; about how it arrived in Australia, who the accordion belonged to, and how it came to end up in a rural barn... This is no average-Joe accordion and it had internal mics too, so it must surely have been a performer's instrument and that performer only wanted the best-of-the-best. How many people say to themselves... hmm, yes I would like a Super VI, but make it in red and cover it in Swarovski's, oh and some silver stars too!

Simply incredible.

@belsmith, do you know anything more about the story of this marvellous musical instrument?

Hi again, we think not so much a barn find, but a garage find. But a good title....
My husband repairs and restores accordions and harmonicas with a particular skill in tuning.
(Currently doing a full tuning on a Pigini Concert Bayan with bass converter for professional working musician.)
As for the Super VI,
The business was contacted by someone wanting to sell a super VI they had and we gave 2 options
- they pay us to restore it and they then sell, or
- we buy and do the restore and decide what we do with it.
They lived close enough to go and look at what they had.

The accordion needs a significant overhaul and is unplayable in the current condition. Actually when you lift the bellows, it plays its own unique sound, great timbre, awful chord.
It's dusty and dirty.The case and accordion are in serious need of some deodorant

As for provenance - it was in the family.

Tony opened it up, explained the two offers, they chose sell, we paid and brought it home amd began investigating.
Reluctant to go back now and ask for further clarification.

We are enjoying getting to know it.

Have attached some case photos to give you an idea of disrepair. The inside looks good at first opening, but smells awful.

 

[Ffingers]

Hi, i have a Scandalli Super VI and can't find anything about it online.
It's red with rhinestone detail on the grill and around other areas. It also has a pickup in it (non insulated).
Four reed block LMMH
41 keys, 120 bass
? Serial number on the grill 225 937
Red tape with blue bellows
The back plate where the model number usually is is blank.
Any ideas? Information. I am curious?
Have attached a couple of photos.

Peter Anderson in the Accordion Repair site on Farcebook ( he's in Melbourne) might be able to give you a first hand opinion and there is an Australian Accordion Society as well as Accordionists in Australia site on fb.
You did not mention your actual location on your profile which does not help.

 

[debra]

Hi again, we think not so much a barn find, but a garage find. But a good title....
...

The inside looks good at first opening, but smells awful.

That is a typical problem with barn/garage/attic finds: the smell! I have taken my late sister's accordion apart completely cleaned every component, reassembled, aired it out (outside, in mild climate and under cover, stored with coffee grains, with backing soda... In the end it became tolerable for playing, but still smells quite clearly... Some smells are just (nearly) impossible to get rid of.

 

[dak]

Some smells are just (nearly) impossible to get rid of.

In a hurry, yes. Air it out a few years in proper conditions, and you are usually fine.

 

[Dingo40]

The inside looks good at first opening, but smells awful.

Don't ditch the case!!!
Ready made cases are hard to find!
Start by investigating what needs to be removed, what can be salvaged and what replaced,
Then institute a very thorough airing (which may need to continue for months) but, as Dak points out (above), will eventually succeed!
My elderly Busilacchio stank of cigarette smoke and was yellowed with nicotine stains but, after much airing and the careful application of some toothpaste, is now as fresh as a daisy !
The case can be refurbished using steel wool, new lining, leather patches and glue.

 

[Walker]

Hi again, we think not so much a barn find, but a garage find. But a good title....
My husband repairs and restores accordions and harmonicas with a particular skill in tuning.
(Currently doing a full tuning on a Pigini Concert Bayan with bass converter for professional working musician.)
As for the Super VI,
The business was contacted by someone wanting to sell a super VI they had and we gave 2 options
- they pay us to restore it and they then sell, or
- we buy and do the restore and decide what we do with it.
They lived close enough to go and look at what they had.

The accordion needs a significant overhaul and is unplayable in the current condition. Actually when you lift the bellows, it plays its own unique sound, great timbre, awful chord.
It's dusty and dirty.The case and accordion are in serious need of some deodorant

As for provenance - we were told the accordion belonged to the sellers mothers, brother in laws, father in law.

Tony opened it up, explained the two offers, they chose sell, we paid and brought it home amd began investigating.
Reluctant to go back now and ask for further clarification.

We are enjoying getting to know it.

Have attached some case photos to give you an idea of disrepair. The inside looks good at first opening, but smells awful.

@belsmith thank you for rescuing the accordion from oblivion. In my opinion there would be great merit in finding out who actually owned the accordion because it is important in understanding its story before it is lost and forgotten. If you could speak to the people maybe they would be quite willing to help uncover the past and the accordionist who owned it and with a little luck obtain some photo's of the player with the accordion. That would be so special. Also, I think it's important to appreciate that this is not any ordinary Scandalli Super VI. It could be one of a kind. I think you knew that already, which is why you posted it here. It would be right and reasonable to talk to Scandalli about it before commencing any restoration project. Perhaps it could be of interest to Scandalli as, after all, it is part of their heritage too.

This is a special accordion, and far more important than a modern concert bayan project... go the extra mile on this one!​

 

[belsmith]

Peter Anderson in the Accordion Repair site on Farcebook ( he's in Melbourne) might be able to give you a first hand opinion and there is an Australian Accordion Society as well as Accordionists in Australia site on fb.
You did not mention your actual location on your profile which does not help.

@belsmith thank you for rescuing the accordion from oblivion. In my opinion there would be great merit in finding out who actually owned the accordion because it is important in understanding its story before it is lost and forgotten. If you could speak to the people maybe they would be quite willing to help uncover the past and the accordionist who owned it and with a little luck obtain some photo's of the player with the accordion. That would be so special. Also, I think it's important to appreciate that this is not any ordinary Scandalli Super VI. It could be one of a kind. I think you knew that already, which is why you posted it here. It would be right and reasonable to talk to Scandalli about it before commencing any restoration project. Perhaps it could be of interest to Scandalli as, after all, it is part of their heritage too.

This is a special accordion, and far more important than a modern concert bayan project... go the extra mile on this one!​

We will go the extra mile and get advice before we do any work on it.

 

[dak]

In my opinion there would be great merit in finding out who actually owned the accordion because it is important in understanding its story before it is lost and forgotten.

It's not always as simple as with mine…

 

[tcabot]

great timbre, awful chord

It might have been a special model built for a jazz player?

 

[belsmith]

It might have been a special model built for a jazz player?

We like jazz

 

[Tom]

Good luck with this restoration! I sure hope it sounds as special as it looks. Unless you have a client in mind, maybe offer it for sale here?

 

[belsmith]

Whatever we decide to do we will let this forum know. We appreciate all we have learned from you.

 

[McSqueeze]

Whatever we decide to do we will let this forum know. We appreciate all we have learned from you.

PM sent.

 

[colinm]

Any news on this ?

 

[belsmith]

Any news on this ?

Hi, waiting for restoration. The workshop has been crazy busy with some big jobs. Exciting and very happy customers. Once there is a bit more time, Tony will start on it.
We contacted Scandali direct and got a form letter reply. So then I sent some photos and got exactly the same reply. Basically Nada, they didn't seam interested. I got the impression that no one really even looked at it.
We will let you know when work starts on it. We have found a professional player who will do a video when it is completed.