Vintage Paolo Soprani

[Davey]

Would anyone happen to know the age of this specimen?

 

[JerryPH]

I have the father of yours...


Mine is a 1938... I'd guess that yours is a 50's-60's version based on that art deco grill and register selector.

 

[Ventura]

note the treble shift slider, and the bass strap adjuster..

those suggest a pre-war model to me

it is big and black, so 1938 through 1940 or when production
was stopped because of the War

the multitude of Rhinestones were likely added much later
by someone who more or less refurbished/cleaned it up

i would not necessarily believe it is a paolo unless you can find
other corroborating specimens.. i personally have never seen a Black Pre-War
paolo, as the shift to Black was an American driven thing, so any 'response"
in kind with a similar model was more likely by the accordion companies
with strong representation in New York

that is all just my slightly educated guess of course

 

[Ventura]

Jerry's is the real thing

 

[JerryPH]

it is big and black, so 1938 through 1940 or when production
was stopped because of the War

that is all just my slightly educated guess of course

I'd not say 30's because it is not close to mine... I'd kind of say its not even 40's due to the fact that waterfall keys were super popular and this accordion has the more modern flat/rounded keys of the later years (not that this is any kind of a guarantee... lol).

After taking another look, I kind of think that the "Italia" badge is also not original, that font is too modern, suggesting a 70's style and that bass strap adjuster is just not quite seen on Soprani accordions in general.

Here is a pic of a 60's Soprani Italia:



Note the waterfall keys and bass strap adjuster. I am not sure it is even a Paolo Soprani Italia at this point, though it could be from another of the Soprani companies.
A couple of inconsistencies indeed.

 

[Ventura]

i think the ones like this (kind of Empire styling) were the ones
that hit the market from Excelsior New York just before WW2,
and which the other Major brands scrambled to build something similar
(like the Galanti's we have discussed ion earlier threads)

the look was such a huge departure from the flowery vaudeville styling
and apparently it took the Pro market by storm

i kind of think the post-war waterfall keys were as much a matter of
material shortages as they were a style choice
(figure out a way to use what you got)

and that 50's Paolo pic is a good example.. they were distinctively
voluptuous in their sculpting

another "tell" for many Paolo models is that his black keys have a visible curved slope
toward the grill, not a linear taper like most brands

i kind of think paolo must have never used a straight line when a curved one would do !

i bet he was married to one of those chubby Cherub Italian Goddess type women

 

[Davey]

Thank you all — something just didn’t ring true with this box, both it’s age or it’s supposed manufacture. It’s been returned for a refund …

 

[Ikesaccordions]

note the treble shift slider, and the bass strap adjuster..

those suggest a pre-war model to me

it is big and black, so 1938 through 1940 or when production
was stopped because of the War

the multitude of RhinestoEven another make of accordion could possibly been modifiednes were likely added much later
by someone who more or less refurbished/cleaned it up

i would not necessarily believe it is a paolo unless you can find
other corroborating specimens.. i personally have never seen a Black Pre-War
paolo, as the shift to Black was an American driven thing, so any 'response"
in kind with a similar model was more likely by the accordion companies
with strong representation in New York

that is all just my slightly educated guess of course

I was going to say, if it is really a Paolo Soprani, it is not a standard model, but a custom made job, if those exist. Rhinestones were sometimes put on custom made or modified boxes, up through more modern times. Even another make of accordion could have been modified in their shop for a special order, I supose; any of that is pure speculation and possibly impossible.