Hello everyone, something like fifteen years ago I was gifted an accordion. I never really took interest to it because I was a child. I've recently took interest to it and I'm trying to find from which brand it could come from and which model it is 
Sorry I can’t tell you more. I do not recognize this Arpeggio branded accordion. Since it’s over 15 years old, my guess is that it is an Italian made “student” or “travel” accordion with 2 sets of treble reeds. I can’t say which company produced it, but someone may.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with it, in fact, if it is in good, playable condition it will serve you well. Definitely enough to get you started on the road to ruin like the rest of us. Just kidding! Go for it! What kind of music do you want to play?
Note that I did not ascribe it a value. Value is based 50% on condition, and 50% on market, neither of which I can determine from one picture.
Good luck!!!!
A good brand.
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
If actually made in Italy, it would usually have have a small "made in Italy " plate or sign printed on it somewhere obvious.
If not, I wonder if it could be a "Delicia" model, made in the Czech Republic?
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There is absolutely nothing on the accordion except the "arpeggio" written on the front. I'm pretty sure he was bought in Belgium, someone told me that the brand or places it's from could be written on the inside of the accordion but I'm pretty scared to open it.If actually made in Italy, it would usually have have a small "made in Italy " plate or sign printed on it somewhere obvious.
If not, I wonder if it could be a "Delicia" model, made in the Czech Republic?
Dingo40
Been here for ages!
If made in Italy, it would be obvious on the outside,
The Delicia brand was sold all over the world.
If uncomfortable, don't try to take it apart.
It appears there actually is/was an Arpeggio brand, and the logo is very like yours.
Here's a clip of a more featured model made by them:
Sorry, I can't be more specific.
The Delicia brand was sold all over the world.
If uncomfortable, don't try to take it apart.
It appears there actually is/was an Arpeggio brand, and the logo is very like yours.
Here's a clip of a more featured model made by them:
Sorry, I can't be more specific.
If made in Italy, it would be obvious on the outside,
The Delicia brand was sold all over the world.
If uncomfortable, don't try to take it apart.
It appears there actually is/was an Arpeggio brand. Here's a more featured model made by then:
Sorry, I can't be more specific.
Thanks a lot for your help, I will keep looking for more information about that brand. I will try to see if I can find a specialist in my country that could be able to tell me more about the accordion
Squeezebox Of Delights
Active member
That's definitely a Chinese one! That's not necessarily a bad thing though, it looks to be in decent shape, and small Chinese boxes can be great instruments for learning on and for hoiking around places where you might worry about damaging an expensive German or Italian one. I learned to play on a little 32 bass Cipelino, and at one point I had a 48 bass Chanson too, until I swapped it for an anglo concertina that I later sold to buy a melodeon (haha). Both of my Chinese piano accordions were/are surprisingly nice instruments, not without their flaws but definitely not as bad as some people make them out to be.
Here's an instrument that looks almost identical to yours, only with Stephanelli as the brand rather than Arpeggio. There are a few cosmetic differences - including the name stuck on the front - but inside they are likely to be very similar, and I imagine they all come out of the same factory.
At the end of the day - particularly with Chinese accordions - the brand and model don't really matter. They're pumped out so quickly and are rebadged and resold by so many different companies that tracing their origins can be almost impossible. What matters is that you've got an accordion, and a cheap and cheerful Chinese box is better than no box at all! : )
Here's an instrument that looks almost identical to yours, only with Stephanelli as the brand rather than Arpeggio. There are a few cosmetic differences - including the name stuck on the front - but inside they are likely to be very similar, and I imagine they all come out of the same factory.
At the end of the day - particularly with Chinese accordions - the brand and model don't really matter. They're pumped out so quickly and are rebadged and resold by so many different companies that tracing their origins can be almost impossible. What matters is that you've got an accordion, and a cheap and cheerful Chinese box is better than no box at all! : )
Squeezebox Of Delights
Active member
Oh also, as a side note, it's upside down in the case. It should always go with the keyboard side facing out towards the handle end, rather than towards the hinge end. Otherwise the entire weight of the instrument rests on the edge of the keyboard (when stored upright) rather than on the feet at the bass end. I can't imagine it's vastly important for a little light box like this, but better to be safe than sorry!
ragtimeman
Member
If made in Italy, it would be obvious on the outside,
The Delicia brand was sold all over the world.
If uncomfortable, don't try to take it apart.
It appears there actually is/was an Arpeggio brand, and the logo is very like yours.
Here's a clip of a more featured model made by them:
Sorry, I can't be more specific.
Hello;
I have an Arpeggio accordion that I purchased from Liberty Bellows a couple of years ago, and it does have a plate on it that says "Made In Italy". It looks similar to the one in the video taken at Liberty Bellows also. Would this have been made by Victoria? It is LMMM, 41 120. It cost around $4000 and I really enjoy it. I especially like the sound of the bass reeds. I've always wondered about the brand that it actually is. Victoria seems to make a quality instrument. Do you think that is the maker of mine?
Thanks!
Attachments
ragtimeman
Member
If made in Italy, it would be obvious on the outside,
The Delicia brand was sold all over the world.
If uncomfortable, don't try to take it apart.
It appears there actually is/was an Arpeggio brand, and the logo is very like yours.
Here's a clip of a more featured model made by them:
Sorry, I can't be more specific.
Hello;
I have an Arpeggio accordion that I purchased from Liberty Bellows a couple of years ago, and it does have a plate on it that says "Made In Italy". It looks similar to the one in the video taken at Liberty Bellows also. Would this have been made by Victoria? It is LMMM, 41 120. It cost around $4000 and I really enjoy it. I especially like the sound of the bass reeds. I've always wondered about the brand that it actually is.
Thanks!
Ventura
Been here for ages!
no
that is wishful thinking on a grand scale
Victoria has a long history, and has earned their own Fame,
and hardly needs to build accordions that look like Excelsiors
in order to make a sale
that is wishful thinking on a grand scale
Victoria has a long history, and has earned their own Fame,
and hardly needs to build accordions that look like Excelsiors
in order to make a sale
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Ventura
Been here for ages!
accordion o rama / ALAS accordions New York was an Excelsior
importer/dealer.. they were a shady operation and typically
competed on price. They contracted several Italian makers over time to build
"look alike" accordions under their own brands, Apeggio and ALAS,
similar to what Cintioli did in Philadelphia. The grill and shifts are
obviously designed to mimic the famous Excelsior models of the period.
obviously, wannabe Excelsiors are intended to undercut the price and get the sale,
so just as obviously they are made cheaply inside, but look really good outside
(if they were built to the same standards, they would have cost just as much)
the ones i have seen were decent and solid, but coarse and heavy by
comparison to a real Excelsior
now 50 or 80 years later, it really only matters what condition the specific unit is in
as to actual pedigree, obviously neither Cintioli nor Accordion o Rama wanted
anyone to know where they got them from, as the whole sales pitch was
intended to be suggestive of the origins and sell "off" the fame of Excelsior,
so just as obviously, running down the certain actual factory sources 50 or 80 years
later is hugely unlikely, and somewhat useless as what would it matter ?
these accordions were not intended to earn their own share of the market,
but merely to steal what share they could through deception
having said that, there has been for a long time a cadre of people
and followers on the internet that attribute "Borsini" as a (possible)
source of some of these "wannabe" Excelsiors, usually name-dropped when
they are re-selling some look-alike excelsior for a ridiculous price
importer/dealer.. they were a shady operation and typically
competed on price. They contracted several Italian makers over time to build
"look alike" accordions under their own brands, Apeggio and ALAS,
similar to what Cintioli did in Philadelphia. The grill and shifts are
obviously designed to mimic the famous Excelsior models of the period.
obviously, wannabe Excelsiors are intended to undercut the price and get the sale,
so just as obviously they are made cheaply inside, but look really good outside
(if they were built to the same standards, they would have cost just as much)
the ones i have seen were decent and solid, but coarse and heavy by
comparison to a real Excelsior
now 50 or 80 years later, it really only matters what condition the specific unit is in
as to actual pedigree, obviously neither Cintioli nor Accordion o Rama wanted
anyone to know where they got them from, as the whole sales pitch was
intended to be suggestive of the origins and sell "off" the fame of Excelsior,
so just as obviously, running down the certain actual factory sources 50 or 80 years
later is hugely unlikely, and somewhat useless as what would it matter ?
these accordions were not intended to earn their own share of the market,
but merely to steal what share they could through deception
having said that, there has been for a long time a cadre of people
and followers on the internet that attribute "Borsini" as a (possible)
source of some of these "wannabe" Excelsiors, usually name-dropped when
they are re-selling some look-alike excelsior for a ridiculous price
ragtimeman
Member
So, who made my Arpeggio accordion? All I know about it now is who didn't make it.
Unless someone else on the forum happens to be familiar with the specific accordion builder(s) contracted by Accordion-o-Rama to build their store-branded “Arpeggio” accordions, this might be difficult to determine. Good luck!
murathan
Was a Bassoonist
Welcome. It sure a starter model...
ragtimeman
Member
This is not wishful thinking on my part, and neither grand scale or otherwise. I just want to know who made my accordion. Evidently you have no clue who made it, and I want to know more out of curiosity than anything. I like it, and I think it sounds pretty good. I really like the bass reeds.
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