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Ranco Italia

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KST

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I'm looking for some help and info on an accordion I was bought for my birthday, it had previously been owned and played by an elderly gentleman but no information was passed on. It is a Ranco made highly decorated accordion with Italia and the name Antonio. I have looked for similar images but cannot find and I even contacted the Ranco factory in Italy but didn't hear back. I would like to know if anyone else has one and any of this model's history. Many thanks in advance :) KST
 

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A picture would really help. Please post one to help with your question.
 
The few Ranco accordions I have seen pictures of (before this one) were all more modern. This one looks really old.
There is a bit of info on Ranco at https://boxandfiddlearchive.weebly.com/history-of-ranco-accordions.html which includes a message that the factory shut down in the 1960s. I don't know how you could have "contacted" the factory in Italy, without a time machine...
From what the picture shows the keyboard needs a bit of leveling, but it looks like it may be playable. Enjoy it!
 
Looks like a 30's Ranco made by Gugliemo Ranco of Vercelli,Italy. The firm made accordions from 1914 to 1939.
 
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The few Ranco accordions I have seen pictures of (before this one) were all more modern. This one looks really old.
There is a bit of info on Ranco at https://boxandfiddlearchive.weebly.com/history-of-ranco-accordions.html which includes a message that the factory shut down in the 1960s. I don't know how you could have "contacted" the factory in Italy, without a time machine...
From what the picture shows the keyboard needs a bit of leveling, but it looks like it may be playable. Enjoy it!

:) I'm wondering now who it is that I contacted!!??
Thank you for your help I have actually read the box and fiddle history. I get the feeling that perhaps it is an early model? It certainly does work and sounds nice however it is too big for me and I'm a novice player. Thank you again for your help :)
 
Looks like a 30's Ranco made by Gugliemo Ranco of Vercelli,Italy. The firm made accordions from 1914 to 1939.
Thank you for this, it does say Antonio in a circular stamp on the side so perhaps that was in honour of his father? Appreciate your help :)
 
The brand has come up a couple of times here on this site, and it seems that we at one time had someone who knew a bit about them (besides Jim D who knows practically everything.) It might be worth looking via the "search" function.
 
That Ranco factory you must have contacted might have been this one --
You see Gugliemo Ranco had a grandson Guiseppe of Vercelli that started producing accordions in 1981 and is still active today.
 
Thank you everyone for your help......Jim D I may still get a reply then...fingers crossed! :D
I did see one similar on google images..the site has a "Malicious blocked" unfortunately but I feel I'm getting warmer.
I shall keep checking on this site in the future :)
 
It's very doubtful the present Ranco firm will have records & pic's of the Grandfathers 80+year old models. But thinking positive you might get a reply.
 
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Jibberin,
I agree. John Crawford is well informed on most things accordion. To the best of my knowledge John is not 'on line' unless of course somebody is helping him and which I don't know about. His expertise is accepted far and wide away from his native Scotland and many people from as far away as the US and Canada would send their valuable instruments for his attention. I did enjoy the tuning video he made.
 
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