Is this Paolo soprani really from the 1930s?

[Michellle]

Hi, my father always said that this accordeon was left behind in WW2 by a German soldier. Then it would have more than 80 years, while it doesn’t look that different from more recent ones. I’m just curious how old this one is. I checked and it’s a C/F. Also wondering if it is fit to learn to play folk music? Thank you in advance. Regards, Michel

 

[Dingo40]

Hi, my father always said that this accordeon was left behind in the WW2 by a German soldier.

Welcome Michelle!
Definitely not from the 1930s!!
It is probably from the late 1950s to early 1960s.
It's a kind of melodeon (diatonic), chiefly "folk music " instrument.
It has 4 voices.
Probably very desirable in folk circles.
Good maker.

 

[Michellle]

Welcome Michelle!
Definitely not from the 1330s!!
It is probably from the late 1950s to early 1960s.
It's a kind of melodeon (diatonic) chiefly "folk music " instrument.
Probably very desirable in folk circles.
Good maker.

Wow, so the story wasn’t true. Now I’m curious how this did end up in the attic of my grandfather’s farm. Time to investigate Thank you!!

 

[Dingo40]

Here's a very similar (though not identical) instrument in action.
Notice how the same button produces a different note on the pull and push of the bellows and how it's very easy for someone lacking adequate experience to run out of air .
See here:

Still another "similar " instrument for demonstration purposes

 

[OuijaBoard]

Here is one from the same era on German ebay--this one is a "unisonoric" chromatic button accordion in which each button is the same note in both directions, like a piano accordion. Yours is a "bisonoric" button accordion in which each button gives two notes, one on the push, one on the pull, like a harmonica.

PAOLO SOPRANI KNOPFAKKORDEON 120 Bässe 4 - chörig B - Griff MUSETTE | eBay

Entdecken Sie PAOLO SOPRANI KNOPFAKKORDEON 120 Bässe 4 - chörig B - Griff MUSETTE in der großen Auswahl bei eBay. Kostenlose Lieferung für viele Artikel!

www.ebay.de

The font and design of the "Paolo Soprani" lettering on the front of the accordion has been used in later periods, I think even as recent as the early 2000's. But the grill design on both of these are the same, I'm guessing mid-century.

For your relative to say the accordion was "left behind in WWII" by a German would not mean the 1930s to me. WWII was from 1940 to 1945. Many Americans were stationed or working in Germany on all kinds of postwar security or other positions, into the 1950s or even the 1960s. Not sure if your relative was saying he got the accordion in Germany after the war. Perhaps he picked it up at a garage sale or something, and heard someone say something like that.

FYI, yours appears to be the 2 1/2 row bisonoric box known as a "Club system" accordion.

 

[OuijaBoard]

I should add that Paolo Soprani accordions were made in the 1920s and 1930s. They actually were made from the early 1900s. The super-early ones were wood on the outside rather than wood covered by celluloid. But that grill and aluminum lettering seems midcentury to me. Could even be 1970s.

Here is a wordpress writeup about new Paolos made for Irish music that attempt to reproduce the old 2-rows that are prized by Irish players (not 2 1/2 row "Club" accordions like yours)---those prized 2-row Irish Paolos date from around the 1940s to 50s. This little wordpress article has a photo of a later-made red 3-row from the same era of yours, probably a "Jimmy Shand" style B/C/C#, but does not identify the year.

My Viewpoint About Paolo Soprani Accordions

The accordion popular as the old grey Paolo Soprani was a very much a favoured instrument to the people of Ireland. It was even quite popular among the traditional players in the country during the…

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This old Reverb listing dates this chromatic with similar font lettering and metal grille as 1970s:

Paolo Soprani 5 Row 4 Voice 1970's - Black | Reverb

Paolo Soprani 5 Row Accordion - C System 5 Row - 120 Bass - 4 Voice in Back :SOLD AS SEEN - NO RETURNS - THIS ACCORDION NEEDS SOME WORK ON ITAS FOLLOWS - TREBLE SIDE - removing reeds - cleaning reeds - fittimg new valves - Tuning -and probably best t remove midi - cables restricting bellow m...

reverb.com