Is Borsini dead or alive?

[Brian K W Lightowler]

Ordered a SuperStar with mics in June 2013 which was delivered a few months later after settlement of the full amount. Unfortunately although basically a nice instrument, there was a problem with jamming of the free-bass converter mechanism and Giancarlo Borsini agreed to return it to the factory and start a fresh order for another SuperStar. Borsini have kept the money on account. We had several positive e-mail exchanges indicating the accordion was in production but in March 2015 we heard the business was reorganising; something to do with the family order. In September 2015 the phone number on their website became unrecognised and e-mails not answered. Leaving me empty handed both musically and financially.
Does anybody have contact details for Borsini or news of the fate of this long established and respected company?

 

[knobby]

They shared a picture on their Facebook page on 26th September - their Facebook contact details are here:

https://www.facebook.com/Borsini-Accordions-162620523851957/info/

 

[Brian K W Lightowler]

Thanks for reply; I note Borsini's Facebook page and web site still seem to be on line, but the phone number quoted therein is "not recognised" by dialing from UK. There may be a good explanation for this but it is not totally reassuring. There is a rumour of a family dispersal of assets and am concerned that the accordion manufacture has been a casualty. They have produced some lovely instruments in the past, of which I have been an owner, hence going back for another. But it looks as if the magic spell is blown. B

 

[Panya37]

I am sorry to confirm your fears, but Emilio Allodi (of the Allodi Accordion Shop in SE London) recently told me that 'Borsini has gone' as a company. He would not say that without good reason. He said that probably the name would be taken over and revived at some point by another company, but effectively they would be producing a different brand.

 

[nagant27]

This is surprising. I felt this was one of the last high quality Italian made accordions left. I played a few of them a couple of years ago when I was at the Cotati accordion festival. Jeff Iacono was the dealer/seller of them and was very knowledgeable and helpful. I would try to find his email and ask him directly. A lot of the players there loved their borsinis and I see it a lotof them on you tube as well.

 

[nagant27]

Just thought that also maybe Liberty Bellows in Philadelphia might know, I see that they are a dealer on their website.

 

[kimric]

I got a letter from Borsini USA and they said it could be up in the air for awhile. What this means is any ones guess. I can't get them currently and the last one I had sold about a month ago.

 

[Deleted member 48]

The official Borsini website would be a place to look for information.

There is a website with a few interviews with Italian accordion makers from the Castelfidardo accordion industry.
Look for Generi musicali => then fisarmonica:
http://www.strumentiemusica.com/fisarmoniche/fisarmonica/

There is a small accordion research section, but information on this website is just a scratch of the info coming from Castelfidardo, I guess.
Dont know who is hosting this site, but it looks to be from Italy and close to Castelfidardo.

Restructurations in the Italian accordion industry are part of the music instrument making business.
Many brands/makers use the same suppliers for accordion parts. These are like a supermarket of accordion parts, some can work with subcontractors for some parts (reeds/reed plates, bellows, wood reed blocks, keys/buttons, felth, springs, ...) .
Its difficult to understand the whole picture of the Italian accordion industry, because not much info is reaching the outside world about how the industry works.

Sometimes a mix of co-operative industry and competition between accordion makers co-existed.
The dead can rise again, but have transformed. The holy spirit at work, shall we say.

A quick look at the historic list of accordion makers in Italy, tells some have been in business for a short period, there were mergers, restructurations, co-operations...

Instead of comparing brands or complete accordions, it can be useful to compare quality of the inside parts of the accordions. And have a look how many parts are identical or quasi identical to other brands using similar/identical parts.

 

[nagant27]

This is something that I sometimes find so frustrating with accordion manufacturing... consistency. Each one is different and feels different, and can sound totally different. Its not a problem when you can try them, but when you order a new one it seems like a crap shoot what you will get, and its not cheap. I am drawn to older, classic accordions for this reason. It seemed for example Excelsiors, Dallapes- actually meant something- not just a badge or a rebadged different brand. Now days it seems neither of these manufacturers though, or many others actually "make" their accordions. Still I enjoy trying and playing any accordion any chance I get! I guess its part of the fun.

 

[Deleted member 48]

Brands, badges, labels are only just superficial.
Look what's inside the trunks.

This subcontracting and common accordion parts has been going on for some time, not only in the accordion industry.
The 19th century and 20th century of piano making has seen similar trends in subcontracting and supplier specialisation.
Accordions and pianos have in common the high number of parts inside, this affects the production processes and scale economies.

This is not a question of today or the past, it's a matter of economy and quality. Actual global economy and robot production has consequences on the organisation of music instrument making business.

Read about it in an Alfred Dolge Dover book:
Pianos and Their Makers: A Comprehensive History of the Development of the Piano Fro the Monochord to the Concert Grand Player Piano Paperback

Substantial parts of this book are about the history and transformation of the piano making industry, from individual maker to a highly specialised industry.
Suppose the accordion industry has made similar transformations.
If the accordion industry doesn't evolve and adapt, how can it survive?

 

[donn]

I have a hunch that in the present case, the original poster is less worried about who's making the springs and felts, the question is who will honor Borsini's contractual obligations.

 

[Deleted member 48]

Depends on who and how many are the persons involved in the deal or contract, the customer and Borsini factory in Italy, or the customer and a 3rd , a dealer outside Italy?

 

[Brian K W Lightowler]

Thanks for all the helpful discussion including the link to strumentiemusica.com - a very interesting site. I realise you can't tell who's who or what anything really is. I suppose that's the amusing challenge of buying accordions. In my sad case which is outlined in the first post of the thread, I dealt directly regarding my specification with Giancarlo Borsini who seems to be a member of the current generation, and his English speaking German wife, Cathrine. All very nice people on the phone and on e-mail. An accordion was ordered, delivered to UK and paid in full (I have paperwork). It was badged Borsini though I note Stephen's remarks that it was in fact a gnatty collection of parts - a bit like cars and most other manufactured kit. Having a fatal fault in the converter mechanism, Giancarlo willingly agreed to take it back to have a look, so I returned it to the factory. He agreed to start a fresh order which seemed OK for the same price. All was going well till September 2015 when communication lines dropped leaving me waiting for the instrument and €8600 in their bank!
I'm hoping for a reincarnation of their manufacturing capability and honouring the ongoing deal. Alternatively a refund. Looking for redress through the Italian courts as I'm operating from UK would seem to be throwing good money after bad at undeserving lawyers. I'm not holding my breath on either outcome and welcome the comments posted so far. Brian

 

[Zevy]

<FONT font=Garamond><SIZE size=125>Good luck, Brian.

 

[Nuuksu]

I hope You get Your money back.

It's quite sad that these kind of things happen but nowdays quantity is more important than quality. Ofcourse everyone need food and must pay bills, manufacturing quality accordions don't produce maybe enough stable income. Also there are trends towards digital musical instruments, personally I don't like digital accordions but to be honest they offer much more flexibility at lower cost and also are lighter than acoustic instruments. At 50's and 60's and even 70's many accordion makers wished to enter electronic music instruments market, they made combo organs synth-cordions, synthesizers and so on. Nowdays brands and badges only influence price. You never know who actually have manufactured it and what is real price.

 

[TomBR]

I'm really sorry to hear all that Brian. I know from my work that the nicest people in business with the most genuine intentions can be overwhelmed by financial events.

The accordion world is quite small and the internet is very public. If the situation is as you think, I hope that the Borsinis get back on their feet and have a decent sense of what they should do for you.

Was the fault with the original accordion really fatal? It just seems sad to think of it being sold to someone else at a liquidation price, though I have no idea how such things work in Italy.
Tom

 

[Brian K W Lightowler]

Thanks Tom for your sympathy. Obviously I have a vested interested in the Borsini's doing the right thing by their victims though they would probably consider themselves more victims than their creditors. Life is always thus and it won't be the first time I've misplaced my trust.
What I have referred to as the fatal flaw in what was an instrument with a lovely tone (the Borsini SuperStar) was when one engaged the converter to swap from Stradella to free bass, if any other button was even inadvertently slightly touched at the same time, the activator got wrong side of the levers and jammed the bass side. I frequently change between the bass systems on the fly in order to articulate a bass solo at the right pitch. The technique works well with my Scandelli FB but in this case it jammed during a performance and abruptly terminated the piece. I can't be spooked by waiting for this kill the flow on the Borsini on an important performance, hence the figurative description. In fairness to the Borsini's, they were willing to take it back to the factory and said they would rerun the order (but it doesn't seem to happening). Brian

 

[hais1273]

You would think the numerous advantages the European Union bestows on us all, or so they tell us, that there would be a straight forward solution to this. I wonder if it would be helpful to contact your MEP's office, perhaps they could offer advice or suggest a way forward that dosen't involve the Italian legal system. Bit of a long shot I expect. Good luck and we hope the problem is sorted out soon.

 

[nagant27]

There is nothing worse Brian than having a mechanical flaw in your instrument during a performance. I think it sticks with you for life and really makes you paranoid. With the price of the Super star you should get one that works perfectly, so I would have sent it back as well. I just hope they make good on it. I'm sure it is stressfull.

 

[Deleted member 48]

I hope all will end fine in the end with your order.

In general, and for any brand or any accordion maker, placing order at an official dealer in your own country can be safer for garantee when problems can occur (delivery times, quality check of the accordion, etc.).
Then its up to the dealer to contact the factory/maker, and a good dealer is going to defend your order or case, in direct contact with the factory/maker.

The problem with direct orders from eg a foreign country to Italy, the customer has to do all the paperwork and phone calls.
I can understand this is not easy.

Working with a good reliable official dealer (most of the times they are listed up per country on the factorys website) can be a quality garantee.
When a single customer orders an accordion directly, you cant be sure the accordion is made by the factory itself.
Probably not the case here, dont know, but a maker could forward orders to subcontractors in Italy or ... China or....

Thats why an official dealer usually is safer. The dealer is responsible for the quality and delivery. If the customer is not satisfied, he can ask for a replacement accordion in some cases.

Then there is off course an extra problem these days, sometimes malafide in between internet dealers you have never met or seen in person, can place and forward orders to subcontractors. The internet creates invisible dealers.

About Borsini, I dont know when this info was dated, but reading about G. Borsini on the Borsini USA website, Borsini North America has put some info on his website...
http://www.borsiniaccordionsusa.com/factory/