Fine looking Paolo Soprani on Ebay - 1950's?

[TomB-R]

It's in Florida and it's way out of my price league (quite apart from anything the pictures may show at the price) but I don't remember seeing this style before. It's a G/C apparently, did styles vary with tunings?
I'd be interested in any comments on the date and design from the PS experts here.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170294147408&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dm38%26_nkw%3D170294147408%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1

[Steve Jones]

Whoa, very nice -with 12 basses. Assuming the internals were of the same quality as the half-step boxes of the same era, it would be nice to convert that to B/C. Only 21 treble buttons but that would be enough for B/C. Pity about the stepped keyboard though.

[Lars]

The grill design and the red badge indicates VERYVERY later 50's, but more likely early 60's.

My guess is that it's LMM 3 voice - just about every single stepped keyboard 21 button with couplers were. It also does not appear deep enough to host 4 sets of reeds.

I've had a 60's stepped keyboard paolo, and it was great, but I'd never be able to play it half-step. The buttons are somewhat small and high, making rolls hard, and sliding from button to button just about impossible.

This is what is known as a "horseshoe grill", due to the obvious curved lines in the grill pattern. This is just about the LEAST attractive model amongst paolo-nerds, as it does not have enough holes in the grill to make the sound come out right. The part under the couplers is where the most often used pallets are located, and with the lack of holes, the air gets muffled. I've had 2 of these horseshoe-grill boxes myself, and the I've still got always plays with no grill...

These G/C does pop up on the 'bay from time to time, though most 8 bass models. The price seems very very very very high compared to the others I've seen ending bidding at about 1000 dollars...

[finnhorse]

This same seller tried to sell a red Paolo in September last year for way too much money.  He lifted the photos and description from Han Speek's website, then advertised the box as the "elusive 1955 Paolo Soprani."  I contacted him twice to inquire about the box's history and internals, but did not receive a response.  He seems to do a lot of business in musical instruments but knows little, if anything, about accordions.

Another 12 bass red Paolo (also B/C) sold from Florida last month -- $600.  here are two photos of that box.

[Lars]

I remember seing that very box you describe - he did not lift the photos from Speek, only the description. What a shame to falsly advertise a 60's paolo as a 50's, based only on what he found on a single website. Most enthusiasts will know what they're looking for, and 10 pictures will say more than a million words...

[Boxlad]

It can only be prudent to be cautious of anyone that sells motorbikes, car fenders and accordions on their e-bay site. Perhaps he might inspire American Chopper to construct an accordion bike one day with a nice four voice exhaust and the growl of the 50's fully leaded engine   

[finnhorse]

It can only be prudent to be cautious of anyone that sells motorbikes, car fenders and accordions on their e-bay site. Perhaps he might inspire American Chopper to construct an accordion bike one day with a nice four voice exhaust and the growl of the 50's fully leaded engine   

Yes, Lars you're right.. memory failed!  I located the old thread just now. 

Re: the American Choppers accordion bike, I can see it now: "Hohner Knucklehead" -- an adequate description for many of us, I'd imagine!