Well, in the recent past, Walter sold his business to Long and McQuade, but made them pay an exorbitant price for the building on top of the price for the buisness and stock and the following year won something like 1 million dollars in a lottery, so he is not hurting. Him and Boris are still close friends to this day and have breakfast at least once a week together. Walter still plays and headlines the annual Kitchener Octoberfest.
Yes I gobbled up every word you posted above, it was very interesting to learn about people that I had met.
Thank you. Just to add a bit more history to your list of names, with respect to Montreal, as you may know, I met Jack Wright in the 1950's when I bought my second Excelsior Symphony Grand (the first was through Al Viola, my teacher in Hamilton - by the way the serial no. was 9999 and there was a history to this one as well. It may have been unfortunately lost in a fire in Montreal years later). Incidentally, Jack was Pat Marrazza's son-in-law and if I recall correctly, started his career as his salesman for accordions. Pat handled Excelsiors at the time and for whatever reasons,
Jack assumed the line and started his own company on Albert Street - Excelsior Supply. His secretary at the time was Minnie Ceretti who either purchased or inherited the company when Jack either retired or passed away.
Minnie moved it to another location on Jean Talon and ran the company by herself until she passed away in her late 80's. I had re-connected with her previously in the 90's with several visits to the city and we continued to stay in touch for years. I helped her bring instruments to Montmagny as part of the dealer shows and that's where I introduced her to Albini Gallant of Quebec City who continues to operate a successful school there. For a time he was also the Excelsior rep, and if I recall correctly, until the company was purchased by Pigini.
As we know, Pigini continues to build Excelsiors at the Karl Marx location in Castelfidardo. (My training re building and servicing Excelsior products was strictly at the previous Via Sardegna location. And that's where I had the privilege of working closely with some of the finest and most experienced artisans in the field.. Yes, I believed they were not just technicians and builders... they were true artisans who took great care in everything they touched in building accordions!. Unsure whether that's true today..)
Must also add that I watched the body of Hohner GOLA's being built there. Have read that Morino's built there too but never saw them while there.
Was also told an interesting story about GOLA by the older artisans but that's for another time...
Through some contacts in Castelfidardo Excelsior's service centre was moved to Burlington for a number of years.
Several Montreal accordionists were good enough to attend some of the concerts I organized in this area, especially when Roberto Lucanero, Emanuele Rastelli, Peter Soave, Daniele Ravaglia were performing. And I may have been one of the first to introduce Alexander Sevastian of Quartetto Gelato fame to accordionists here at a concert in Hamilton Place.
This month marks the 6th anniversary of his much too soon passing.. We really miss him.....
By the way, few if any people knew that Jack Wright used to take apart many of the recently imported accordions, especially the Accordiana keyboards, coat the treble springs with a bit of vaseline, then lower the keys with his special tool , ensure all was in perfect shape before packing and shipping to dealers. He also, when requested, added decor to the front of the instruments by himself!.. Used a paper punch to make circles, a sharp knife to cut strips and adhere them using acetone!! Another creative artist... watched him often and learned the procedure. He also had hired an Italian tuner, Tristano, when needed, to retune and check the reeds. He told me that he rarely, if ever had a complaint about the quality of his products. He prided himself on quality and his reputation of the original meaning of "EXCELSIOR"!
One more -maybe secret then -- using steel number pegs, he also stamped every instrument he sold at the bottom of the base section.. hardly visible, but they are there!! If you own one, check.. In later years, I believe the first 2 numbers were the year and the second the sequence of his sales.. although unsure of this fact since I've seen only earlier ones.. Anyone reading this can check their instrument.. if no number there, Jack did not sell it.. And some had an AE as first letters.. that's another story..
And to add to the story, it seems that many accordionists today wish to know the year of manufacture. Numbers inside usually are factory parts matching number to ensure the right parts come together when assembling. They're not necessarily time of manufacture. Must emphasize.. that's for Excelsior only.. unsure of others..
Further, any makes of instruments may sit on sheelves until ordered by dealers or purchasers and the same is true of retail dealers' stocks..
The only sure up-to-date instruments would likely be those specially ordered. I've seen accordions sitting on retail shelves for over 3 years.
In fact I still have a brand new Excelsior built about 15 years ago. A well respected and famous professional player ordered a special hi-end model and the factory built 2 identical ones for reasons not important here.. I happened to be at the factory when he tried them out and took one.. I bought the other. Will be looking to sell it at some point... of course play it to change the air as we know should be done...
Again, pull that thread, and off I go... Hope you found this of interest , and also of interest to others.. if not, apologies for taking your time.
