Can anybody help me identify this brand of accordion?

[Accordion guy2010]

so I got this on Facebook marketplace for £40 and it was in better condition, it looks like this because I disassembled it with no experience im stupid I know I just got curious. So the brand is Geraldo the model is the Italia 120-4 I believe it was made in the 1920s ish but I’m unsure, and I’m planning to restore it, should I do that?

 

[ColoRodney]

I’m sure you can buy one that’s in much better condition for not much more. This looks to be in pretty bad shape, has been severely abused over the years, and even spending dozens of hours on repair it still won’t be much fun to play or listen to. Sorry.

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

I believe Geraldo was a "house brand" of the well-known company Selmer, meaning they imported accordions from various factories in Europe and had their name stamped on them. The cheaper models were made in Saxony and aren't very good, but the more expensive ones were made in Italy and were pretty decent. Yours was probably one of their most expensive models in the mid-late 1930s, as it's a full size Italian instrument with four voices (denoted by the 120-4, which, looking at other Geraldos, seems to be a model number based on the number of bass buttons and treble voices). In working order it should be fun to play and have a pretty mighty sound! The problem is getting it to that condition. Cosmetically it looks ok and I'm guessing the bellows are alright - all my 1930s Italian accordions have great bellows, apart from the one that's actively falling apart! The keyboard, however, is a right mess. You want to take off the treble grille, number each key with masking tape and a pencil, and carefully remove the key axle from one end of the keyboard. They will all spring off into the stratosphere, so be careful! When you've got them all off, you can start to have a look at what's causing them to look like the accordion has been punched in the face. If you post some pictures on here, there will always be some people who can help! Aside from the snaggle-toothed keyboard, I can see you want a new set of shoulder straps - get some cheap ones on eBay - and at least one replacement bellows pin - someone on here might be able to help with that, otherwise you can trim down a nail of the correct diameter (make sure you trim it from the pointy end so you have something to grab onto when removing it).
These accordions are very common and not worth much at all, and while it's true that you could've got something in better shape for £40, you've got this one now. If I were you, I'd use it to (carefully) practice repairs on, and essentially use it as a test instrument. If you can get it working, that's great! If not, then you haven't destroyed anything of significant historical or monetary value. Good luck!

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

Of course, another sensible option is to go to a local accordion repairer/fettler. Some of them are less than enthusiastic about pre-war instruments, as you'll find there's a lot of undeserved prejudice towards them in the professional accordion community (Touchy topic? No offence intended!). Lots however will gladly help, so if I were you I'd have a look to see who's near you. The man behind Accordions South West in Totnes - I forget his name - seems to have a soft spot for pre-war boxes. He has a YouTube channel where he demonstrates the instruments he's restored. In fact, here's one that's very similar to yours! Probably a couple models down, with 80 bass and three voices (LMM). He's tuned it so the reeds are completely in unison, giving a dry, vibratoless sound, rather than the usual slightly-out-of-phase tuning that gives the accordion its characteristic warble. Yours will be tuned LMMM, meaning it has one low voice and three middle voices, with the three middles all tuned slightly apart from each other, giving a wide, thick chorus effect. E.g. yours will sound very different to his!

In fact, it's likely to sound fairly similar to one of mine, a 1930s LMMM Frontalini. This is the one the bellows are falling apart on, but it's still playable and sounds perfectly good.

 

[Accordion guy2010]

I believe Geraldo was a "house brand" of the well-known company Selmer, meaning they imported accordions from various factories in Europe and had their name stamped on them. The cheaper models were made in Saxony and aren't very good, but the more expensive ones were made in Italy and were pretty decent. Yours was probably one of their most expensive models in the mid-late 1930s, as it's a full size Italian instrument with four voices (denoted by the 120-4, which, looking at other Geraldos, seems to be a model number based on the number of bass buttons and treble voices). In working order it should be fun to play and have a pretty mighty sound! The problem is getting it to that condition. Cosmetically it looks ok and I'm guessing the bellows are alright - all my 1930s Italian accordions have great bellows, apart from the one that's actively falling apart! The keyboard, however, is a right mess. You want to take off the treble grille, number each key with masking tape and a pencil, and carefully remove the key axle from one end of the keyboard. They will all spring off into the stratosphere, so be careful! When you've got them all off, you can start to have a look at what's causing them to look like the accordion has been punched in the face. If you post some pictures on here, there will always be some people who can help! Aside from the snaggle-toothed keyboard, I can see you want a new set of shoulder straps - get some cheap ones on eBay - and at least one replacement bellows pin - someone on here might be able to help with that, otherwise you can trim down a nail of the correct diameter (make sure you trim it from the pointy end so you have something to grab onto when removing it).
These accordions are very common and not worth much at all, and while it's true that you could've got something in better shape for £40, you've got this one now. If I were you, I'd use it to (carefully) practice repairs on, and essentially use it as a test instrument. If you can get it working, that's great! If not, then you haven't destroyed anything of significant historical or monetary value. Good luck!

I believe Geraldo was a "house brand" of the well-known company Selmer, meaning they imported accordions from various factories in Europe and had their name stamped on them. The cheaper models were made in Saxony and aren't very good, but the more expensive ones were made in Italy and were pretty decent. Yours was probably one of their most expensive models in the mid-late 1930s, as it's a full size Italian instrument with four voices (denoted by the 120-4, which, looking at other Geraldos, seems to be a model number based on the number of bass buttons and treble voices). In working order it should be fun to play and have a pretty mighty sound! The problem is getting it to that condition. Cosmetically it looks ok and I'm guessing the bellows are alright - all my 1930s Italian accordions have great bellows, apart from the one that's actively falling apart! The keyboard, however, is a right mess. You want to take off the treble grille, number each key with masking tape and a pencil, and carefully remove the key axle from one end of the keyboard. They will all spring off into the stratosphere, so be careful! When you've got them all off, you can start to have a look at what's causing them to look like the accordion has been punched in the face. If you post some pictures on here, there will always be some people who can help! Aside from the snaggle-toothed keyboard, I can see you want a new set of shoulder straps - get some cheap ones on eBay - and at least one replacement bellows pin - someone on here might be able to help with that, otherwise you can trim down a nail of the correct diameter (make sure you trim it from the pointy end so you have something to grab onto when removing it).
These accordions are very common and not worth much at all, and while it's true that you could've got something in better shape for £40, you've got this one now. If I were you, I'd use it to (carefully) practice repairs on, and essentially use it as a test instrument. If you can get it working, that's great! If not, then you haven't destroyed anything of significant historical or monetary value. Good luck!

I was the one who put the keyboard in that state, I do have high regrets. I have this Galotta 72 bass accordion that’s in great shape to keep me going. I took the keys out with no experience and now the key pin is a bent mess I do have all the parts for it in a separate box