Giulietti Keyboard grills

[Verismo]

Good morning!
I would appreciate any information regarding Giulietti keyboard grills. I have this instrument, a Giulietti M52, and the keyboard grill is different than the more common grill associated with Giulietti. This instrument came to the US via Italy sometime between 1965 and 1975. Thank you!

 

[Ventura]

and it was owned by a Girl named Doris

and oh dat girl looked nice..

but i can't remember which song those lyrics came from..
maybe a Jim Croce tune

 

[Alan Sharkis]

and it was owned by a Girl named Doris

and oh dat girl looked nice..

but i can't remember which song those lyrics came from..
maybe a Jim Croce tune

Bad, bad Leroy Brown, but what does that have to do with ID’ing the accoorduon?

 

[Ventura]

well if we could find Doris, we could ask Her...
i bet she'd know

i bet she still looks nice too..

her accordion still looks nice !

 

[Verismo]

Am I to assume that no one has any knowledge about Giulietti keyboard grill models? I would greatly appreciate any historical information.

 

[Tom]

Welcome Sally!

Well Leroy never should have looked at Doris. Look what it got him. Anyway, it's cool to see another gold key accordion named like that. I hope Doris really loved it.

The grille could be a custom cut, made by an intrepid worker on break, maybe to impress Doris? I haven't seen another with this G clef design, but maybe others here have.

Anyway, please tell us more! Do you play it? What kind of music do you enjoy playing?

 

[JerryPH]

Hey Sally... welcome!
I noticed that the name plate is screwed in to the accordion. Have you ever removed it to see if there was something else there?

BTW, guys, I am not fully versed on Giulietti history, but isn't that "G" representative of what they did in the 60's more than the 70's?

 

[Dingo40]

Am I to assume that no one has any knowledge about Giulietti keyboard grill models? I would greatly appreciate any historical information.

Welcome Sally!
I'm no expert but, to me, your accordion could be 10 years older than you think.
Luckily, we have a new member (Steve Snavoyosky) who may be able to help you.
The JG logo suggests Julio Giulietti as maker, and Steve mentioned knowing Julio well.
BTW, as I understand it, Giulietti designated its models by having the first one (or two) digits giving the number of treble couplers and the last digit giving the number of the bass couplers.
Hence, yours is model 52, mine is model F74, etc.

 

[Verismo]

Welcome Sally!

Well Leroy never should have looked at Doris. Look what it got him. Anyway, it's cool to see another gold key accordion named like that. I hope Doris really loved it.

The grille could be a custom cut, made by an intrepid worker on break, maybe to impress Doris? I haven't seen another with this G clef design, but maybe others here have.

Anyway, please tell us more! Do you play it? What kind of music do you enjoy playing?

Hi Tom-Thank you for your response. I recently purchased this instrument and am awaiting its arrival from Pennsylvania. I have seen one other Giulietti M52 with this grill design. It was presented in a video by Liberty Bellows. I was looking for an instrument of this size, and, yes, the "Doris" on the accordion may be why I was able to get this instrument at a fair price (that, coupled with the fact that it is ivory and gold...I suppose not too many gentlemen want that.) However, I am hoping that I can remove the nameplate addition. I imagine that this instrument was customized for Doris--too bad my name is Sally At any rate, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the instrument will be in good condition, and that it will exhibit the wonderful qualities of the Giulietti brand. I do wish I could learn where/when this particular grill design came from. Thanks again for your response. I will post more after I receive the instrument.

 

[Verismo]

Welcome Sally!
I'm no expert but, to me, your accordion could be 10 years older than you think.
Luckily, we have a new member (Steve Snavoyosky) who may be able to help you.
The JG logo suggests Julio Giulietti as maker, and Steve mentioned knowing Julio well.
BTW, as I understand it, Giulietti designated its models by having the first one (or two) digits giving the number of treble couplers and the last digit giving the number of the bass couplers.
Hence, yours is model 52, mine is model F74, etc.

Welcome Sally!
I'm no expert but, to me, your accordion could be 10 years older than you think.
Luckily, we have a new member (Steve Snavoyosky) who may be able to help you.
The JG logo suggests Julio Giulietti as maker, and Steve mentioned knowing Julio well.
BTW, as I understand it, Giulietti designated its models by having the first one (or two) digits giving the number of treble couplers and the last digit giving the number of the bass couplers.
Hence, yours is model 52, mine is model F74, etc.

Hi and thank you for your reply. I am attaching a few more photos in case Steve S. sees this thread. The instrument is a recent purchase for me, and I haven't received it yet. However, I am hoping to be able to remove the "Doris" name and that the instrument will produce the fabulous quality of the Giulietti sound.

 

[Ventura]

hey it is a pretty accordion, and doesn't show many signs of wear
in the pictures

once you receive it, one easy thing to do will be to loosen and remove
the 2 small screws on either side of the grill.. set them in a small lid or saucer
so they don't roll away

carefully pull the grill up at the top (long side) edge then it should slip
off the shift area easily

you want to note if the aluminum arms that go from the keys to the
valve pads are round or flat.. this will help to date the accordion as
early (round, towards the Serenelli period)

press the keys individually and look carefully under a good light
for signs of infestation by bugs into the felts (little holes and a funny smell)
if the felts are nice and clean colored and still fluffy looking
(not all squished flat or distorted) then you also want to peek at the
surfaces of the leather pads that are what actually touch the plate and
cover the holes to open and close cleanly without feeling sticky
or wiggling sideways much if at all

with the grill off, you can watch the shift mechanism as it moves,
you want it to move cleanly and with minimal resistance

if you see much gritty stuff sticking anywhere, q-tips with just a dab of
alcohol and gently swiping is pretty safe to do

look down where the aluminum attaches to the keys, see if they cleaned it out..
often there are age old dustbunnies hiding down there.. a mild air-stream
out on the porch can convince them to re-locate

finally, please consider changing your name to Doris..

that might be a lot easier than removing that nameplate

have fun !

 

[Tom]

Hi Tom-Thank you for your response. I recently purchased this instrument and am awaiting its arrival from Pennsylvania. I have seen one other Giulietti M52 with this grill design. It was presented in a video by Liberty Bellows. I was looking for an instrument of this size, and, yes, the "Doris" on the accordion may be why I was able to get this instrument at a fair price (that, coupled with the fact that it is ivory and gold...I suppose not too many gentlemen want that.) However, I am hoping that I can remove the nameplate addition. I imagine that this instrument was customized for Doris--too bad my name is Sally At any rate, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the instrument will be in good condition, and that it will exhibit the wonderful qualities of the Giulietti brand. I do wish I could learn where/when this particular grill design came from. Thanks again for your response. I will post more after I receive the instrument.

I really hope it works out for you Sally. As you can see from my avatar, I have a lovely Lira with the gold keys and "Viola" name. It's a smaller format "ladies model." I love it, it was my first accordion and I now consider Viola to be the name of the instrument. As Jerry mentioned, it does appear you can remove that nameplate. Hopefully Ventura's note will help with dates. I think 60s or 70s is a good guess but I am not an expert on the Giulietti history. With the 3 treble shifts, there's a good chance it has three reed banks, LMM or LMH. Good luck!!!!!

 

[Dingo40]

However, I am hoping to be able to remove the "Doris" name

Just leave the name plate be and call the accordion "Doris"

 

[Verismo]

Thanks to those who have made valuable comments. Today I learned a bit more about this accordion's history. It was brought to America from Italy in the 1950s. The original owner's grandfather stayed in the US until the 70s, when he moved back to Italy. When he returned to Italy, he left the accordion to his grandson--the person who recently sold it to me. As far as the name "Doris" goes--The Italian grandfather's first wife died while giving birth to my seller's mother in Italy. The grandfather then remarried, and the seller thinks the name "Doris" is for the Italian grandfather's second wife. The gentleman who sold me the accordion has told me that the instrument is on its way... as Paul Harvey used to say "Now you know the rest of the story."

 

[JerryPH]

Lovely... thanks for sharing, Sally.

 

[snavoyosky]

Good morning!
I would appreciate any information regarding Giulietti keyboard grills. I have this instrument, a Giulietti M52, and the keyboard grill is different than the more common grill associated with Giulietti. This instrument came to the US via Italy sometime between 1965 and 1975. Thank you!

I found your presentation...read your words and viewed the photos.

I believe I answered your concerns in my previous message. Now that we're in touch, what further questions do you have.
FYI, I was a Giulietti dealer and accordion designer for him for many years.

 

[Verismo]

Thanks so much Steve! I guess my only real question would be to ask what the real difference between the M52 student model (mine) and the M52 professional model would be. (I assume the pro model has microphone options.) Other than that, I am hoping the quality will be the same. I am a professional accordionist and trumpet player in the greater Cincinnati area. I studied accordion with the great American virtuoso Robert Davine while I was getting my Master's degree in Music Theory at the University of Denver in 1990, and have a BM in trumpet performance from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of music. I am currently studying online with Maestro Emanuele Rastelli and am an intermediate student in his accordion Academy in San Marino, Italy. I am very thrilled to make your acquaintance and look forward to future correspondence with you.

 

[snavoyosky]

Thank you very much. We are not that far apart as I live in Salem Ohio a suburb of Youngstown. A few friends of mine in Cincinnati are Carmon Deleone, a fixture conductor of the Ballet there and Carol Birchak who is a cellist. Carmon may have forgotten me as its be a century since we last convened. We both studied with Edwin Marini should wake him. Me? I am on my last leg in life but I was a session accordionist doing everything primarily in this country and Canada and did some work in the Orient. In the military I was a staff or head arranger as well as doing USO shows. I knew Bob Davine btw. I'll be available if you need help with your next accordion. I'm sure you will make that decision as you progress with the M52. We can go through those specifications when the time arrives.
My best to you.

 

[Verismo]

Thank you very much. We are not that far apart as I live in Salem Ohio a suburb of Youngstown. A few friends of mine in Cincinnati are Carmon Deleone, a fixture conductor of the Ballet there and Carol Birchak who is a cellist. Carmon may have forgotten me as its be a century since we last convened. We both studied with Edwin Marini should wake him. Me? I am on my last leg in life but I was a session accordionist doing everything primarily in this country and Canada and did some work in the Orient. In the military I was a staff or head arranger as well as doing USO shows. I knew Bob Davine btw. I'll be available if you need help with your next accordion. I'm sure you will make that decision as you progress with the M52. We can go through those specifications when the time arrives.
My best to you.

Dear Steve,
Wow! What a wonderful blessing to meet you! My accordion should get here within the next week. My husband Joe is a fabulous clarinetist, and he will be celebrating his 87th birthday on June 26. We are still actively performing together, and Joe played numerous gigs with Bob Davine when we lived in Denver. Joe and Bob were great friends, and I loved Bob very much. He was a very kind and humble man who was very supportive during my tenure with him as his teaching assistant. At any rate, Joe and I have several days off from June 24-27. Perhaps my accordion will be here by then and we could make a trip up to meet you and see you. Joe has a great love for the accordion. He grew up in Brooklyn and has had a rich and varied career. If the accordion arrives before June 24, perhaps there might be some time on the 25th or 26th when we could arrange to see you...BTW, I have a Titano Continental Musette and it has a wonderful hamonik pick up. I like the instrument very much. It's not too big for me and I feel that I have the control I need when playing it. I also have a Guerrini accordion which was made in San Francisco in 1930. It plays fairly well, but has 140 basses (I am a novice with that)--my hope is to be able to play it well enough to take with me to retirement homes, as the instrument is a visual delight, sure to make anyone smile at its beauty. I'll attach some photos of it. My hope is to combine music with visual art to bring some joy to folks who might benefit from it. I'll keep in close touch and let you know when the Giulietti gets to our house.

 

[NickC]

That's a great looking instrument, and it's cool to have some of it's history. Hoping it brings you years of joy.