Help Identifying Mid-Century Paolo Soprani

[roneill1995]

Help Identifying Mid Century Paolo Soprani

Hi, all! My grandma recently got out her old accordion, and I’d like to learn more about it. I’d say it’s from the late 1950s, as she got it when she was 13 (so 1960/61). The only identifying markings are “Paolo Soprani” and “made in Italy”. It has the “blue badge” and has three treble registers. I’ve tried searching different things, and even used Google image search to try to find another like it. However, I can’t seem to find any with the same red and white color, grill style, and number of register switches. Any info would be greatly appreciated! I’m very interested in antique/vintage items and would love to know more about the model of this accordion. Thanks so much!!

 

[Ben-jammin]

Based on the register switches I would assume it to have three sets of treble reeds with an LMM configuration, but I’ve seen many accordions where the registers don’t match what’s in the accordion. Many Italian brands don’t give specific model names and these student grade instruments are more often described by their apparent specifications. Number and configuration of the reed sets, quality of the reeds, length of keyboard, and number of bass buttons and treble keys.

If it is LMM it was a few tiers up from the more common LM student accordion but will likely still have student quality reeds. At the moment LMM are more desirable than LMH as the two middle reed sets give an authentic ethnic sound used in a lot European music traditions.

It looks to be in good cosmetic shape but the one fold of the bellows opening while others are closed could be concerning. The actual functional condition of the accordion can not be determined from external pictures.

 

[Torresi]

What does the blue badge represent? I've seen some Paolo Soprani's with other color badges like red or black.

 

[Dingo40]

From the photo of the back of this instrument, it looks very much as it there's damage to the bellows, including, possibly, a missing bellows corner .
I think someone said the blue badge is an earlier version than the red.

 

[JerryPH]

From the photo of the back of this instrument, it looks very much as it there's damage to the bellows, including, possibly, a missing bellows corner .
I think someone said the blue badge is an earlier version than the red.

Those bellows may all need to be re-taped or replaced, depending on how badly they leak. That's not a corner missing, that could be damage or just oddly pulled out in that pic?

 

[Ventura]

while i do see some evidence of mold spotting i don't see enough to
suggest rot, but the bellows distension is evident in several of the pics,
and the second fold is also warped, but muy guess is going to be
that there are loose reeds inside, and they have become stuck in
such a way as to cause this rather serious warp which was exasperated
when the accordion was pur back in it's case compromised.

the reeds may or may not still be stuck in that fold, but the damage
is done.. of course it needs to be pulled apart immediately to avoid
further damage

ron, you may be able to save/salvage it and play it someday,
but if you don't get the insides stableized it will end up totalled
and worthless except as an object d'art

 

[OuijaBoard]

I had to click on the individual shots to see the lettering on the switches more clearly. This is a two voice accordion on the right-hand treble side, with two sets of reeds an octave apart, a regular "middle" set and a low set an octave below. This setup is abbreviated LM. Many mid century student accordions were LM setup.

The nice thing about this one is, its switches offer three sound choices: M by itself (so-called "Flute" or "Concertina" sound), L by itself (so-called "Bassoon") sound, and LM together (so-called " Bandoneon" sound, here dubbed the "Master" switch). Some of the student LMs had simpler switches only offering 2 sounds, M alone, plus LM together.

I love the old LM boxes, though I prefer the smaller sizes such as the 30-key 50-bass Titano LMs or the small 30-something Contello LMs. Some of the ordinary Italian factory issue Italian reeds from this era have a lovely warm timbre, and that Italian LM sound is so cool for tango, klezmer\Balkan, and jazz.

 

[Torresi]

From the photo of the back of this instrument, it looks very much as it there's damage to the bellows, including, possibly, a missing bellows corner .
I think someone said the blue badge is an earlier version than the red.

Thanks for the tip Dingo40. Now I wonder if the black label accordions are earlier versions of the blue label accordions or latter versions of the red.

My first impression on the label colors was that it was a way to differentiate between quality level such as entry, semi-pro and professional but then I red somewhere else that there are more than red, blue and black label colors (which I have not seen yet).

 

[JerryPH]

I would kind of doubt that badge color would indicate the differences between different quality levels, it would more likely be the choice of the season or year or what better fits the accordion color. What differentiates the entry level, semi-pro and pro levels are the same things that define those in all accordions, # and quality of reeds, build quality, # and quality of registers and bass systems, etc...

 

[Pipemajor]

Thanks for the tip Dingo40. Now I wonder if the black label accordions are earlier versions of the blue label accordions or latter versions of the red.

My first impression on the label colors was that it was a way to differentiate between quality level such as entry, semi-pro and professional but then I red somewhere else that there are more than red, blue and black label colors (which I have not seen yet).

I don't know the answer, but, if you look on "The Session" Irish trad music forum, in the adverts for Paolo button boxes for sale they often mention "blue badge" model.