juniebug
Newbie
It does explicitly say 'Sonora' on the front instead of Sonola so you can imagine Google was useless
Need Identification for this Sonora my Uni gifted me
- Thread starter juniebug
- Start date
Squeezebox Of Delights
Active member
Hello Juniebug!
I've never heard of Sonora before, but I can tell you that it was almost definitely a name stamped onto an imported instrument by a musical instrument dealer, exactly like companies like Stagg and Gear4Music do today. Your accordion was built in the 1930s in Saxony, probably in Klingenthal specifically, by one of the squillions of accordion makers that existed before they got conglomerated post WWII. Most of the 1930s Saxony-built instruments exported to the UK seem to have been pretty mediocre in quality, and while some have stood the test of time, I seem to find that they deteriorate much more seriously than Hohners or Italian boxes of a similar age. I've heard a few restored ones though, and they have a wonderful sound!
Yours looks in pretty decent external condition, though the only real way to tell an accordion's condition is to look inside. If you haven't done that, it's a simple matter of pulling out the little metal pins around the treble or the bass end - usually six of them - and then carefully detaching it from the bellows. Sometimes the materials stick together with time, so you may need to wiggle it. Once you're inside, you'll probably see that the dozens of little leather valves are curled back and no longer sitting flat against the reedplates, and that the wax holding the plates in is cracked and brittle. If it turns out it's already been refurbished, then great news. Otherwise you've got a bit of a job on your hands - if you want to have a go at restoring an accordion, that is. This one is probably a good starting point, as it's not particularly valuable or historically significant, so it won't matter as much if you make mistakes.
Anyway yes, to cut a long story short your accordion was built in the 1930s in Saxony and imported by a music dealer. It's not a brilliant instrument, but it's not terrible either, and if none of the keys stick, bone of the notes are out of tune, and the bellows don't leak too badly, then it should be a decent enough first instrument, at least until you decide whether to upgrade to one in better condition. Have fun!!
Oskar
P.S. bonus points if the reeds inside have a circle stamped into the reedplate. That's a trademark of Dix, who made very good reeds.
P.P.S. jealous of you being given an accordion by your university!
I've never heard of Sonora before, but I can tell you that it was almost definitely a name stamped onto an imported instrument by a musical instrument dealer, exactly like companies like Stagg and Gear4Music do today. Your accordion was built in the 1930s in Saxony, probably in Klingenthal specifically, by one of the squillions of accordion makers that existed before they got conglomerated post WWII. Most of the 1930s Saxony-built instruments exported to the UK seem to have been pretty mediocre in quality, and while some have stood the test of time, I seem to find that they deteriorate much more seriously than Hohners or Italian boxes of a similar age. I've heard a few restored ones though, and they have a wonderful sound!
Yours looks in pretty decent external condition, though the only real way to tell an accordion's condition is to look inside. If you haven't done that, it's a simple matter of pulling out the little metal pins around the treble or the bass end - usually six of them - and then carefully detaching it from the bellows. Sometimes the materials stick together with time, so you may need to wiggle it. Once you're inside, you'll probably see that the dozens of little leather valves are curled back and no longer sitting flat against the reedplates, and that the wax holding the plates in is cracked and brittle. If it turns out it's already been refurbished, then great news. Otherwise you've got a bit of a job on your hands - if you want to have a go at restoring an accordion, that is. This one is probably a good starting point, as it's not particularly valuable or historically significant, so it won't matter as much if you make mistakes.
Anyway yes, to cut a long story short your accordion was built in the 1930s in Saxony and imported by a music dealer. It's not a brilliant instrument, but it's not terrible either, and if none of the keys stick, bone of the notes are out of tune, and the bellows don't leak too badly, then it should be a decent enough first instrument, at least until you decide whether to upgrade to one in better condition. Have fun!!
Oskar
P.S. bonus points if the reeds inside have a circle stamped into the reedplate. That's a trademark of Dix, who made very good reeds.
P.P.S. jealous of you being given an accordion by your university!
juniebug
Newbie
Greatly appreciated, Oskar, It has been in semi-recent use but stored in a dryroom since before covid.
Do you know any resources I could use to test it's sound, it sounds fine to me by ear but I'm rather inexperienced.
My gratitude,
June
Squeezebox Of Delights
Active member
To test its sound I'd recommend either taking it to a local accordion repairer (if you can find one), or taking a video or making an audio recording and posting it here!
