Rivoti by Sonola from my youth

[FromMyYouth]

My parents bought me this accordion in 1965 for US $450 (at least that is what they told me it cost). I took weekly lesson for 6 years and played in an accordion band through the accordion school, a few times I played solo in front of my entire elementary school and at a couple scouting holiday dinners. As a teenager I suddenly decided to stop playing it all together. It has been out it case maybe a half dozen times since then. It appears to be in good shape and sounds strong when I played a few notes with it, although the case it is stored in shows lots of wear. It has a 17" keyboard measured from the outside of the white keys. At this point in time, I am not very interested in relearning how to play it, but it was a big part of my childhood and so I have been hanging on to it all these years.

Does anyone have any information on the model and does it have any value today?

 

[ColoRodney]

There are a lot of accordions like this around, so there’s not a lot of monetary value to it. People nowadays are usually interested in accordions that have a musette setting, and this is just a two reed (dry tuned) accordion. That said, I’m sure it’s a fine instrument, though after 60 years, it probably could use some maintenance work.

 

[JudyKimp]

It looks like it's in beautiful condition. I wish I had kept my old accordion - I sold it when I was 18 (ah those teen years)! Maybe you should reconsider playing it. If you are a working person (not retired), you may find once you retire you will be interested in trying it again.

 

[Squeezebox Of Delights]

I'm interested in the "mute on/mute off" switches; does it have a sordina mechanism? If so, that's quite cool.

 

[Caps]

I'm interested in the "mute on/mute off" switches; does it have a sordina mechanism? If so, that's quite cool.

These had a sliding baffle that closed off part of the front so as to provide sort of a tone chamber like sound. Mine were labeled Mellow and Brite. and they did work. I have always liked the Sonola sound and although the Rivoli Student models were decent, they don't compare to the full size "SS" models. ( Sound or price)

 

[Tom]

Yeah, pretty sure I posted about my repair one or more of these. 2020. I don’t remember what happened to it but maybe I sold it to Dan?

Thread 'Rivoli by Sonola Repair'

Oct 30, 2020

Finally decided to start on this 2 treble (Clarinet/Bassoon) Rivoli by Sonola.

I've had a few of these and always liked them. This one is a nice, lightweight full sized accordion I plan to keep in the garage/shop so perfect. It's model # R 2411 and there's a "69" stamped inside and also "Nor L" written, maybe one of the workers? Maybe from 1969 vintage?

Not a professional accordion by any means but decent Sonola reeds and build. Anyway, my goal at this point was just to make it playable. There were 6 or 8 sticking and/or greatly uneven keys (like 1/2 inch high). I faced the...

• Tom
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Accordion Makes & Models

It was a nice accordion.

 

[John M]

I had a Rivoli that my Dad bought for me in 1950 when I first started Accordion lessons (I think they called it the 3/4 size). It sounded good. But, everything is relative. It didn't sound like anything close to my instructor's "top of the line" Sonola. Or, like Charles Magnante's Excelsior, when he made a visit to where I took lessons. Granted, they could play much better than me, but I could still tell the quality of the tone was so much better on their accordions than the tone of my Rivoli.

 

[Tom]

I had a Rivoli that my Dad bought for me in 1950 when I first started Accordion lessons (I think they called it the 3/4 size). It sounded good. But, everything is relative. It didn't sound like anything close to my instructor's "top of the line" Sonola. Or, like Charles Magnante's Excelsior, when he made a visit to where I took lessons. Granted, they could play much better than me, but I could still tell the quality of the tone was so much better on their accordions than the tone of my Rivoli.

Oh I think I had a red one of those if I am not mistaken. Memories…..

 

[John M]

Oh I think I had a red one of those if I am not mistaken. Memories…..

This Rivoli Baby Grand was the one I had. They called it the ladies' model. I think it was also called 3/4 size. It came in Black, White, or Red.
I also included the "top of the line" Sonola model SS-10. Look at that price tag! $1100 in 1950.

 

[Tom]

Cool ads John, thanks! That big Sonola looks mighty fine!

 

[Zevy]

This Rivoli Baby Grand was the one I had. They called it the ladies' model. I think it was also called 3/4 size. It came in Black, White, or Red.
I also included the "top of the line" Sonola model SS-10. Look at that price tag! $1100 in 1950.

A small fortune in those days!
BTW I wish someone would correct the headline of this thread to “Rivoli”.

 

[Caps]

This Rivoli Baby Grand was the one I had. They called it the ladies' model. I think it was also called 3/4 size. It came in Black, White, or Red.
I also included the "top of the line" Sonola model SS-10. Look at that price tag! $1100 in 1950.

Cool. I had the SS-15 purchased in 1968.