Please help me ID these accordians

[l***@gmail.com]

Hello I have 3 accordians that were given to me by my grandfather. One is a Titano, one says La Diamante and one says Philharmonica. I don't know anything about them. I can post pics if needed. I would like to get some more information about them. I don't know if they need to be repaired. Can anyone recommend websites or forums where I can get more information or ask questions? Thanks I really appreciate it.

[ciao_accordion]

first, where are you?

second,
https://www.bussomusic.com/catalog/titano.php
to research current models, for comparison

generally, Philharmonics are pretty good boxes, but
have languished on the used market, seldom selling
for what they are "Worth", as there is just
so much competition from popular brands - i think they
were marketed out of the Philadelphia area, and bodies
over the years suggest they were sourced from several factories

there is a Diamond brand from the Pacific North-West,
fine accordions, but i've never seen or heard of one
with an Italian spelling on the marquee, so perhaps
yours is a model name, but the brand-name is not on the front
or fell off

Post by l***@gmail.com
Hello I have 3 accordians that were given to me by my grandfather. One is a Titano, one says La Diamante and one says Philharmonica. I don't know anything about them. I can post pics if needed. I would like to get some more information about them. I don't know if they need to be repaired. Can anyone recommend websites or forums where I can get more information or ask questions? Thanks I really appreciate it.

[l***@gmail.com]

Hello I am located in New Hampshire. Thank you for the replies. Is there a way to attach photos to google groups?

[ike milligan]

Post by l***@gmail.com
Hello I am located in New Hampshire. Thank you for the replies. Is there a way to attach photos to google groups?

You sent them to me, and if you would like a 2nd opinion give me
permission to post them on my site and I will provide a link here.

[DoN. Nichols]

Post by l***@gmail.com
Hello I am located in New Hampshire. Thank you for the replies. Is
there a way to attach photos to google groups?

First off -- while *you* may be seeing it in google groups, it
is really a usenet newsgroup which happens to be copied into google
groups, so google's own rules don't necessarily apply here. :-)

Some usenet servers (many, actually) either totally block
articles with binary attachments (including photos), or strip off the
attachments before forwarding the rest of the article.

The best thing is to find someplace to put the images on a web
site, and then include the URL of the web site in your article. No
problems with that. (Back in the old days, a lot of ISPs offered their
users free (though small) web sites. These days, you probably need to
go to one of the free sites like "dropbox" to put the images.

Good Luck,
DoN.

[ciao_accordion]

Post by l***@gmail.com
One is a Titano,

in my experience, bellows that have spent too much time
in a hot attic show their loss of "purchase" of the
metal corners as they shift out of position, breaking
the bellows tape and popping off completely eventually

since this was just an inexpensive student accordion to
begin with, i wouldn't personally bother with it, even
though it's still shiny and pretty and looks kinda good,
looks don't trump playability

[ike milligan]

Post by ciao_accordion

Post by l***@gmail.com
One is a Titano,

in my experience, bellows that have spent too much time
in a hot attic show their loss of "purchase" of the
metal corners as they shift out of position, breaking
the bellows tape and popping off completely eventually
since this was just an inexpensive student accordion to
begin with, i wouldn't personally bother with it, even
though it's still shiny and pretty and looks kinda good,
looks don't trump playability

She said that the relative she got the accordions from, or inherited,
was eventually playing the Titano and not the others. It is a Child's
120 from the looks of it. If it's the only playable one yet, don't rain
on their parade

[ike milligan]

Post by l***@gmail.com
Hello I have 3 accordians that were given to me by my grandfather. One is a Titano, one says La Diamante and one says Philharmonica. I don't know anything about them. I can post pics if needed. I would like to get some more information about them. I don't know if they need to be repaired. Can anyone recommend websites or forums where I can get more information or ask questions? Thanks I really appreciate it.

If you live or visit near Silver Spring Maryland, I will look them over
for free.
http://accordiondoc.home.mindspring.com

[ciao_accordion]

and off on a tangent,

"Diamante" is also the name of a really fine song
by Zuccero Fornicari - a dozen or so years ago - was
a pretty big hit in Italy and Europe

i've learned it and play it on gigs - thought about
writing an English lyric for it, but haven't fleshed
that idea out yet

ciao

Ventura

[Alan Sharkis]

On Sun, 26 Apr 2015 16:01:58 -0700 (PDT), ciao_accordion

Post by ciao_accordion
and off on a tangent,
"Diamante" is also the name of a really fine song
by Zuccero Fornicari - a dozen or so years ago - was
a pretty big hit in Italy and Europe
i've learned it and play it on gigs - thought about
writing an English lyric for it, but haven't fleshed
that idea out yet
ciao
Ventura

I just checked Cooperfisa's site because I thought they had a line of
accordions that they call, "Diamante." I was right. i don't know if
that matches the accordion in question, but it's worth a look.

Take care.

Alan

[ike milligan]

Post by Alan Sharkis
On Sun, 26 Apr 2015 16:01:58 -0700 (PDT), ciao_accordion

Post by ciao_accordion
and off on a tangent,
"Diamante" is also the name of a really fine song
by Zuccero Fornicari - a dozen or so years ago - was
a pretty big hit in Italy and Europe
i've learned it and play it on gigs - thought about
writing an English lyric for it, but haven't fleshed
that idea out yet
ciao
Ventura

I just checked Cooperfisa's site because I thought they had a line of
accordions that they call, "Diamante." I was right. i don't know if
that matches the accordion in question, but it's worth a look.
Take care.
Alan

We mustn't get off on a tangerine.

[ciao_accordion]

Post by Alan Sharkis
I just checked Cooperfisa's site
Alan

hey i think you were on to something Alan

now some of the people who settled in that area
and eventually formed Co-operativa Fisharmonica
had broken away from Dallape after learning the
craft, and some cosmetics, particularly the aluminum
grille and often shifts, of their accordions made
them fool a lot of people (still do on eBay)

not that they were trying to fool anyone, just doing
what they knew how

looking at the photo Ike posted up i see similarities,
so sure, this could be an early cooperfisa - 1950's
you know they are very big on their history so why not
revive the model "la Diamante"

maybe the guy you bought your's from last year
(i think you said it was built by Coop)
would forward a photo back to his Italian
contacts - see what they think

BTY how do you like your new Box?

ciao

Ventura

[Alan Sharkis]

On Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:13:05 -0700 (PDT), ciao_accordion

Post by ciao_accordion

Post by Alan Sharkis
I just checked Cooperfisa's site
Alan

hey i think you were on to something Alan
now some of the people who settled in that area
and eventually formed Co-operativa Fisharmonica
had broken away from Dallape after learning the
craft, and some cosmetics, particularly the aluminum
grille and often shifts, of their accordions made
them fool a lot of people (still do on eBay)
not that they were trying to fool anyone, just doing
what they knew how
looking at the photo Ike posted up i see similarities,
so sure, this could be an early cooperfisa - 1950's
you know they are very big on their history so why not
revive the model "la Diamante"
maybe the guy you bought your's from last year
(i think you said it was built by Coop)
would forward a photo back to his Italian
contacts - see what they think
BTY how do you like your new Box?
ciao
Ventura

Well, Ventura, we might be looking at some kind of record here.
Normally, when I email Emilio Magnotta, it may take several days for
him to reply. I anticipated that this request might take longer,
since he might have actually contacted somebody in Italy.

However, he responded TODAY. His answer to my question was that the
manufacturer's name, La Diamante was just as it was on the grille in
that picture. Could be there actually was a manufacturer by that
name?

Go figure. And, as Ike suggested, we really shouldn't go off on "a
tangerine." :-)

The new box is doing OK by me, except for one thing. It seems that
the bass board fastens with screws right through the feet and into
wood, but that wood turns out to be soft wood. Cost-cutting?
Take care.

Alan

[ciao_accordion]

Emilio Magnotta......... responded TODAY. His answer ...... was that the
manufacturer's name, La Diamante was just as it was on the grille in
that picture. Could be there actually was a manufacturer by that
name?

sure, i mean there were what, still 10-12 little factories going
there when they first formed the co-operativa so there were a
lot of names in that association - which ones stayed obvious
and which faded into history - well it's lucky they know as
much about the history there as they do - there was a 40 year
interval between the original co-op going out of business
and when the school project revived Accordion-making in
the valley, and resurrected the old company, or something
like that. Good for them pulling it off!

and of the individual brands, how few nice little examples
of their work is still around? not much! actually, if your
friend Emilio intends to stay "Married" to cooperfisa for
a really long time, he should make am offer for this neat
little box, and "nail it to the floor" in his store to use
as a living breathing show-and-tell example of the rich
history behind his/their new accordions

The new box is doing OK by me, except for one thing. It seems that
the bass board fastens with screws right through the feet and into
wood, but that wood turns out to be soft wood. Cost-cutting?

that, and also without a Kiln and the long-term investment money
to stock the exotic woods, it's doubtful we'll see ANYone ever
manufacture an accordion with 23 different kinds of wood again.

and COOPER, in my opinion, waste a lot of manufacturing hours on
handworking stuff machines could do much better, and cheaper...
their hand-maidens could have been fitting threaded inserts into
the soft-wood to give solid long-term performance to the assembly
screws if they weren't cutting grille patterns with coping
saws in the aluminum by hand...

but glad it's pleasing you in the main

ciao

Ventura

[Alan Sharkis]

On Wed, 29 Apr 2015 18:31:16 -0700 (PDT), ciao_accordion

Post by ciao_accordion

Emilio Magnotta......... responded TODAY. His answer ...... was that the
manufacturer's name, La Diamante was just as it was on the grille in
that picture. Could be there actually was a manufacturer by that
name?

sure, i mean there were what, still 10-12 little factories going
there when they first formed the co-operativa so there were a
lot of names in that association - which ones stayed obvious
and which faded into history - well it's lucky they know as
much about the history there as they do - there was a 40 year
interval between the original co-op going out of business
and when the school project revived Accordion-making in
the valley, and resurrected the old company, or something
like that. Good for them pulling it off!
and of the individual brands, how few nice little examples
of their work is still around? not much! actually, if your
friend Emilio intends to stay "Married" to cooperfisa for
a really long time, he should make am offer for this neat
little box, and "nail it to the floor" in his store to use
as a living breathing show-and-tell example of the rich
history behind his/their new accordions

The new box is doing OK by me, except for one thing. It seems that
the bass board fastens with screws right through the feet and into
wood, but that wood turns out to be soft wood. Cost-cutting?

that, and also without a Kiln and the long-term investment money
to stock the exotic woods, it's doubtful we'll see ANYone ever
manufacture an accordion with 23 different kinds of wood again.
and COOPER, in my opinion, waste a lot of manufacturing hours on
handworking stuff machines could do much better, and cheaper...
their hand-maidens could have been fitting threaded inserts into
the soft-wood to give solid long-term performance to the assembly
screws if they weren't cutting grille patterns with coping
saws in the aluminum by hand...
but glad it's pleasing you in the main
ciao
Ventura

Gee, I don't know. Emilio is pushing Dino Baffetti (diatonics as well
as piano-accordions) and Giulietti on his Web site now. I guess he
can still get anything.

Meanwhile, I looked up La Diamante on that list of accordion
manufacturers maintained at:

http://www.accordionlinks.com/manufacturer.html

and it appeared with the following note:

from Numana, Italy (active 1955-1963)

with no indication of whether the company just closed, or was absorbed
into another firm. I'm not that familiar with Italy's geography, so I
went to Google Earth and found it in Ancona.

OTOH, Cooperfisa's present factory is in Vercelli, which is no where
near Ancona.

I don't know if that means anything about whether La Diamante joined
the Coop or not. Maybe you want to pursue this, but I have,
unfortunately, more important things on my mind. But, if you do find
anything else, please share it with me.

Thanks.

Take care.

Alan

[ike milligan]

Post by Alan Sharkis
On Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:13:05 -0700 (PDT), ciao_accordion

Post by ciao_accordion

Post by Alan Sharkis
I just checked Cooperfisa's site
Alan

hey i think you were on to something Alan
now some of the people who settled in that area
and eventually formed Co-operativa Fisharmonica
had broken away from Dallape after learning the
craft, and some cosmetics, particularly the aluminum
grille and often shifts, of their accordions made
them fool a lot of people (still do on eBay)
not that they were trying to fool anyone, just doing
what they knew how
looking at the photo Ike posted up i see similarities,
so sure, this could be an early cooperfisa - 1950's
you know they are very big on their history so why not
revive the model "la Diamante"
maybe the guy you bought your's from last year
(i think you said it was built by Coop)
would forward a photo back to his Italian
contacts - see what they think
BTY how do you like your new Box?
ciao
Ventura

Well, Ventura, we might be looking at some kind of record here.
Normally, when I email Emilio Magnotta, it may take several days for
him to reply. I anticipated that this request might take longer,
since he might have actually contacted somebody in Italy.
However, he responded TODAY. His answer to my question was that the
manufacturer's name, La Diamante was just as it was on the grille in
that picture. Could be there actually was a manufacturer by that
name?
Go figure. And, as Ike suggested, we really shouldn't go off on "a
tangerine." :-)
The new box is doing OK by me, except for one thing. It seems that
the bass board fastens with screws right through the feet and into
wood, but that wood turns out to be soft wood. Cost-cutting?
Take care.
Alan

It is not at all uncommon for the wood that the bass board connects to
to be softwood. Good softwood is good for that support to connect to. If
it were hardwood is when it should have threaded inserts. Threaded
inserts work less well in softwood.
If it gets damaged, the softwood, it is easy to repair.
What would be really unusual IMHO is if that were hardwood. Hardwood
unless it is many years old will warp and cause problems. Softwood is
less likely to warp if it is kiln-dried already. It is easy to
second-guess the makers of an accordion, but if that part is not giving
you a problem, that is proof.

[ike milligan]

Post by l***@gmail.com
Hello I have 3 accordians that were given to me by my grandfather. One is a Titano, one says La Diamante and one says Philharmonica. I don't know anything about them. I can post pics if needed. I would like to get some more information about them. I don't know if they need to be repaired. Can anyone recommend websites or forums where I can get more information or ask questions? Thanks I really appreciate it.

As promised I have uploaded the pictures to

http://accordiondoc.home.mindspring.com/pictures/Sanchez/

[ciao_accordion]

Post by ike milligan
As promised I have uploaded the pictures to
http://accordiondoc.home.mindspring.com/pictures/Sanchez/

thanks Ike

i like the old Iorio... maybe philharmonic"A" was a
descriptive play on words? the Philharmonic brand
would not have existed when this accordion was built

this reminds me of an old Settimo i saw long ago
that had 4 sideways sliding shifts, similar to
Paolo but different, used briefly in Italy,
and avoiding the Excelsior rocker patent

and the palm shift with the swooped built-out wood
protection to either side - reminiscent of the art-case
models - so maybe 1936 - 1939 as a guess - the squared-front
keys also popular then

i am concerned at the loose reeds on the tabletop
in the picture - if they came from inside, how did
they get outside? or who opened it up and is
anything else missing inside?

this one could have reeds worth hearing

[ike milligan]

Post by ciao_accordion

Post by ike milligan
As promised I have uploaded the pictures to
http://accordiondoc.home.mindspring.com/pictures/Sanchez/

thanks Ike
i like the old Iorio... maybe philharmonic"A" was a
descriptive play on words? the Philharmonic brand
would not have existed when this accordion was built
this reminds me of an old Settimo i saw long ago
that had 4 sideways sliding shifts, similar to
Paolo but different, used briefly in Italy,
and avoiding the Excelsior rocker patent
and the palm shift with the swooped built-out wood
protection to either side - reminiscent of the art-case
models - so maybe 1936 - 1939 as a guess - the squared-front
keys also popular then
i am concerned at the loose reeds on the tabletop
in the picture - if they came from inside, how did
they get outside? or who opened it up and is
anything else missing inside?
this one could have reeds worth hearing

She said that some of the reeds might be missing, but it would be hard
for a novice to tell if they were missing, because:
1. Not every what looks superficially like a chamber on a reed block has
a reed to go with it.
2. Reeds that come loose from the wax have a way of hiding in the
accordion, and have to be located.
It seems she opened it and took out some loose reeds. These should be
put into a baggie and thrown back into the accordion and taking care not
to lose any of the bellows pins.
A person knowing how to restore accordions should be the only person to
remove things from inside it.
the whole set of matched reeds ion this particular accordion is part
of its main value when and if it gets restored. Just any reeds will not
be suitable to replace them. That is, if the accordion was not played on
a cruise ship, which would destroy the reeds from salt.
This accordion is a legacy which ought to be preserved.