Simonelli Piano Accordion?

[jasonj]

Hello,

Does anyone know anything about this brand of accordion, age, etc? It says Simonelli and made in Italy, but I cannot find anything out about it online, have not seen any that look like it, and a reverse image google search provides no leads. Any and all information is appreciated.

 

[Dingo40]

Hi JJ and welcome.
It appears to be a circa 1960s two voiced learner's instrument.
How far is it across the outer edges of the white keys of the keyboard in inches?
17" junior size, 19" to 20" adult size.
Simonelli could be the name of the music school or teacher selling them to students.
Though "basic " they were better than the corresponding range of today.
Probably needing some TLC after all these years!

 

[Ben-jammin]

I concur that it most likely is a “stencil” brand that ordered accordions built to spec from one of the numerous italian builders and slapped a unique brand name on it for the local retailer. This was very common and what’s important with these instruments is the specifications and the condition. As Dingo mentioned this would be a learners accordion with the limited register selections. We usually refer to accordions on spec thus would be a 41/120 2/4 for 41 treble keys 120 bass buttons 2 sets treble reeds and 4 sets of reeds for the left hand. Keyboard width is also an important specification as the instrument should be sized appropriately for the player.

 

[jasonj]

Thanks for the assistance. Update: This is a junior size (16 3/4 in). I have since learned that this particular accordion had a history from a student using it in the early 1960s in Irving, Texas and was sold from the Music Education Institute (receipt).

 

[Ventura]

old accordions that have lived their entire lives in the American Southwest
do tend to have been dried out to a much greater extent than typically
seen in the rest of the country

this means generally more curled reedleathers, shrunken gaskets, hardened
and leaky key valves, which you won't seeuntil you oopen it up,
and even some wood distension of keys and such