Sonola Rivoli Deluxe LMMH

[isorry123]

Hey everyone,

It’s been a while! Allow me to brag a bit… I sold the LMMH Crucianelli and the pre-war Scandalli - both restored with wax, reeds, cleaning, new keyboard on crucianelli. Thankfully I lost money on both.

Got a tip off from a friend and learned they had an accordion at an antique store here in Connecticut. Went down and to my surprise it was this beautiful Sonola.

Around 1957 it was purchased locally at Caruso Piano gallery, then donated to the antique store for sale. I will play it downtown again once the weather turns nice.

I got a very, very good deal on it ($300) and it’s probably the best thing I’ve ever bought. The reeds look almost brand new - wax looks decent still. I suspect it might’ve been refurbished sometime in the 80’s, a few scuff marks around the bellows pins would lead me to think that - but maybe not.

Straps look relatively new, but i threw out the back padding as it had deteriorated. It has an amplifier - no idea if it works or not.

Only thing is the palm switch seems a bit sticky - master doesn’t open the piccolo as much as I’d like it to. But that’s alright - hoping some playing will loosen up the joints.

It has incredible sound, different than my other two.

Thanks for listening ! I can’t wait to play this along with my excelsior and crucianelli.

 

[JerryPH]

For $300, that's a very good deal, but it will need some work. Lots of valves need replacing and likely at least a touch-up tune will be needed after that. Once cleaned up I'd love to hear it in action, Sonola sound really nice.

 

[isorry123]

For $300, that's a very good deal, but it will need some work. Lots of valves need replacing and likely at least a touch-up tune will be needed after that. Once cleaned up I'd love to hear it in action, Sonola sound really nice.

Ya I degunked the palm switch mechanism today so it toggles very easily, but it’s still not opening all the reeds. Need to find out where the slack is in the lines

 

[JerryPH]

I have a little Hohner that had a similar issue. In my case the solution was simple, the reed plates were not properly seated and once removed and re-seated, the registers worked like new.

 

[isorry123]

I have a little Hohner that had a similar issue. In my case the solution was simple, the reed plates were not properly seated and once removed and re-seated, the registers worked like new.

I got the register switch mechanism off very easily - ended up bending the metal switch to fix the master. Should’ve taken pictures seems like an aluminum arm so it had bent over the years and will again, I’m sure