Thrift shop accordion identification

[MarcoMike]

Hi guys!

Hope this is OK. I work at a charity thrift shop, and we got an accordion it. Looks beautiful and plays, but I'm concerned about its authenticity.

It appears to be a "Paolo Soprani" based on Google lens searches, but it doesn't have any make written anywhere. Also, the logo badge is blue instead of red as on the lens results. The only text found on the accordion is "Made in Italy" etched onto it. It came in a case lined with blue felt, but it's in poor condition, unlike the accordion itself which looks great.

Thanks for your help!

 

[jozz]

looks legit, the blue is the older badge:

here's another one

 

[JIM D.]

The make is as the name implies, !00% Paolo Soprani A student model 3 reed / LMM / 4 reed Bass

 

[JeffJetton]

Interesting. Only 37 keys on the right-hand side, but with what looks like a full 120-bass on the left. Is that common? Never noticed one like that before.

In any case, that looks like a winner to me, MarcoMike. A lot of the older accordions like that were just LM ("low & middle reeds"), so they would only have the equivalent of the three left-most switches (middle only, low only, both together). That extra middle reed gives you the switches with the two dots next to each other (like eyes), which makes the accordion much, much more useful in my book.

 

[JIM D.]

Well Jef; As you must know a full man size accordion has a 19" keyboard with 41 full size treble keys.
Now there was and is 18" keyboard accordions with full size keys & 120 basses. They are made for accordionists that prefer
smaller & lighter frame accordions with full size keys. To fit full size keys to an 18" keyboard four keys are eliminated.
In most all cases the 4 keys are eliminated from the top of the Keyboard ( farthest from the chin).

 

[NickC]

It looks like Jozz posted the 37 key model to show that the badge is the same, but they are two different instruments.
The accordion in the original post has 41 keys.

 

[Dingo40]

Yes, and there are two adjoining couplers, both labelled bassoon: the result of a bad day at the factory?

 

[Dingo40]

Nick said:
"but they are two different instruments.
The accordion in the original post has 41 keys."
And they have very different grills.

 

[MarcoMike]

Two bassoon buttons, but they depress simultaneously, also two violin buttons that do the same?

Either way, I appreciate the help guys! How cool there's such an active community. I play and own too many guitars, and thought about taking this home. But since it appears to be a valuable, quality piece, our charity shop (Bargain Basket on Marco Island) will certainly find someone who will appreciate it more. It's one of the most beautiful musical instruments I've ever come across. Thanks!

Is $1000 too much? We negotiate anyway on the expensive stuff, but we want to be fair.

 

[Scuromondo]

Will they permit you to look inside to see the condition of the wax, reeds, and leathers? If you were purchasing from an accordion dealer with a warranty, I would say this is a very good deal—though that scuff mark through the celluloid near the top looks a bit severe. But being from a thrift shop adds some risk. You might want to make sure that the $1000 accordion doesn’t need $500 in repair work.

 

[Tom]

Good luck with the sale, Mike, let us know how it goes. It will be interesting as the accordion market seems in flux these days. $1000 seems a little high without discovering the state of the inner workings, as Scorumondo (accordion dark side?) says, but I don't know the market there in sunny Florida. There are a lot of well heeled accordion playing snowbirds and retirees looking to add to their formidable collection perhaps?

Really, I think you should offer $500 and learn to play it. DIY any tweaks it needs, I'm guessing at least one curly leather or two.

 

[JeffJetton]

Yeah, $1,000 seems a bit steep to me too. That's getting into the "not too much more for a brand-new one" territory. Although more power to 'em if they get it and it's a good charity!

Weird that there doesn't seem to be a Bandoneon (LM) register. Or is the print too small in the photo for me to make it out? (Or does it have one but somebody swapped a spare switch with the wrong name?)

 

[olivigus]

I believe the switch on the far right as you look at it actually says BANDON, (vs BASSOON) which would make it the LM option. Sweet little accordion though. Hope it goes to a great home.

 

[MarcoMike]

Thanks guys! We've got an offer for $500 coming tomorrow it seems, and there is a lot of interest and low ballers ($2/$300) so it looks like we'll get it sold soon.

 

[MarcoMike]

As an update, the $500 deal never showed up. It's currently reduced to $550 about to drop further.

My father is offering $200 just to have this as a discussion piece. I'm not an accordionist, but just holding it and playing the piano part as you fill and deflate... It sounds glorious.

May just outbid him and add this to my already nonsense sized music room. I feel kinda bad that this hasn't found a home though. One of the old timers here says we had an accordion last year sell for $200 and it was nothing near the looks alone of this.

 

[Tom]

Hope you get it and learn to play it Mike. Good luck!