Subject: Accordian People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: Sorcha Date: 24 Feb 03 - 11:49 AM Carole C and all you others, please help. I found a beautiful Alberto Finzi box in a pawn shop. Inlay, mother of pearl "cut work", gilt, etc. I have no idea what type it is, and one button is broken. I didn't even pick it up and try to squeeze it so I don't know if even works. Pawn man said he knew it was over $100 yrs old. He wants $350USD for it. Can't find any pics on line, and what little I did find was in Italian (obviously). What type is it, how could I tell, is it worth $350, and is anybody interested enough for me to go fool with it? Thanks! |
Subject: RE: Accordian People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: CarolC Date: 24 Feb 03 - 12:23 PM I wouldn't pay $350 USD for a 100 year old box unless you want to use it as a decoration and money is no object for you. If you want to play it, you'll end up spending a lot more than you pay for it just to get it back into playable condition. |
Subject: RE: Accordian People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: CarolC Date: 24 Feb 03 - 12:28 PM Here's a thread I started when I was shopping for an accordion. It addresses some of the issues you will face when you consider whether or not to buy a particular instrument. Accordion Shopping Adventures |
Subject: RE: Accordian People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: Sorcha Date: 24 Feb 03 - 12:49 PM I don't want to play it Carole, I was just curious, and wondered if anyone else would. Thanks! Sure is a pretty box, though. |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: GUEST Date: 30 Jan 09 - 05:47 PM i have a finzi accordion. I can't find any info on it anywhere. I'm pretty sure it was made in the 50's. U can see a pic of it on craigs list. I was my step dads who has passed away, and no one else in the family plays. If anyone knows anything about finzi accordions i would appreciate it. |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: GUEST Date: 23 Jun 09 - 04:10 PM I have a Finzi accordion also it was my Dads and i also have it on craigs list for 200.00 |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: GUEST,guest Date: 15 Nov 10 - 10:07 AM i have just inhereted a piakspdia piano accordian that was traded for a chocolate bar in world war 2 overseas in 1945 can anyone tel me anything about it. it is in excellent condition does not smell musty and makes beautiful music |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 15 Nov 10 - 10:11 AM A photo would be of great help - there are so many variations of the theme - how many keys/buttons.switches, etc? I might be interested, but I'm in Australia. |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: GUEST Date: 15 Nov 10 - 10:16 AM my husband will have it home tommorrow it has 4 rows of 8 buttons i know and it is a tonika 1 as far as keys the picture on my cell phone was not clear. i can not find anything about the maker or where it is from any suggestion |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: Jack Campin Date: 15 Nov 10 - 06:49 PM I assume you mean it has 32 buttons for the left hand and a piano keyboard for the right. That would be a very simple instrument, probably designed for a child to learn on. Still good for that if it's in working condition but probably not worth repairing. |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 15 Nov 10 - 08:44 PM Very old instruments may need a lot of expensive repair. Bellows may have holes and need replacing - $$$$$$$$ - may need to be specially made if an unusual size. The leather valves may need replacing - 2 for each note on each side - reeds may need tuning or replacing if rusty, etc. The surface finish plastic on older instruments may be not the safer acetate, but the older nitrate - too much heat and it will explode into fire - as happened to Rolf Harris while his instrument was on stage in the heat from the lights... :-) He still played it after though! The best 'old' instruments for tone, size, weight, playability, etc are those made in the 1950s-60s heyday. Older instruments MAY actually be wonderful - but, if not played or stored correctly, may have much expensive damage - mould, rust, damaged valves, the wax holding the reeds may have cracked, etc. Example, if the instrument has been stored on its back, the leather valves will have warped and need replacement or the sound will be terrible - they are meant to stand on their feet on the left hand side where the bass buttons are so that no strain is put on the valves. If stored subject to damp - mould. Ants may have eaten the felt/rubber (found one like that myself!), heat or cold may have damaged the wax, etc An old instrument may be 'valuable' as a museum piece, or to hang on a pub wall and rust away, but as a playable item, it may need much work - I can't do it myself, so I have to pay, and good technicians are literally dieing on their feet nowadays - so it may not be a financial worthwhile project, but then again, you may be very lucky. Old Italian instruments may actually be very good instruments, and some of them ARE really worth restoring for their tone, but it's a bit difficult to guess without looking closely at them. |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: terrier Date: 15 Nov 10 - 09:14 PM snip.. Example, if the instrument has been stored on its back, the leather valves will have warped and need replacement or the sound will be terrible - they are meant to stand on their feet on the left hand side where the bass buttons are so that no strain is put on the valves..snip Just as a point of interest, there's a current discussion on Melodeon dot net about storing reed instruments and it seems that the general consensus is to store the box in the 'playing' position. |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: GUEST,guest Date: 16 Nov 10 - 02:42 PM thank you for what info you could give me and yes probably was for a child it only has 15 piano keys but it is in very good condition no rust no musty smell and a good sound very well taken care of thank you all for your replies anyone here of the name? |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 16 Nov 10 - 09:07 PM "it seems that the general consensus is to store the box in the 'playing' position. " Have any of those 'experts' advocating this actually looked INSIDE their instrument to see how it is BUILT? :-) |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: GUEST,Alan Date: 17 Jan 20 - 04:12 PM I was cleaning an apartment today and found a Finzi N 845 I know nothing about it history worth etc. Can anyone direct me or help please |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: GUEST,Alan Date: 06 Jan 23 - 11:38 AM Good day, I have come across an old finzi accordian! Cannot find a picture of it! Any suggestions of where or how to research it please and thank you |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: DaveRo Date: 06 Jan 23 - 02:56 PM I came across a reference to 'the famous Enrico Finzi concertinas' in a US trade catalogue from 1911. |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 06 Jan 23 - 06:49 PM DAVE - and your reference is ? ? ? Sincerely, Gargoyle catalogue name? source? publisher? |
Subject: RE: Accordion People Help? Alberto Finzi? From: DaveRo Date: 07 Jan 23 - 03:40 AM Well it was interesting learning about the history of accordion making in Italy. e.g. http://www.fondazionesanguanini.it/images/lanterna/lanterna_80.pdf And googling "fisarmonica" "finzi" (and adding exclusions such as "-agenzia -pasca" because finzi is a common name) turns up a few pictues of (my guess) mid-20th century piano accordions, some in a cream mottled effect, probably celluloid, including one described as "Finzi 12 bass piano accordion mod.627 made in Italy" and what looks like the same model described as "FISARMONICA ITALIANA MARCA Alberto Finzi, 120 bassi con Valigia ...". OTOH this list does not include a Finzi: https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aziende_produttrici_di_fisarmoniche_in_Italia 'Ricardo Finzi' may have been a well-known player and his name was given to a particular instrument. And "Ricordi e Finzi" was a famous musical instrument seller (and maker?) in Milan so they may have commissioned "Finzi" instruments. |
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