*PLEASE NOTE THAT I SELL ONLY TO USA RESIDENTS AND WILL SHIP ONLY WITHIN THE LOWER 48 STATES.  THANK YOU!*

ITEM DESCRIPTION:  BLACK CELLULOID SCANDALLI, DELFINO MODEL 1930'S FULL-SIZE PIANO STYLE ACCORDION WITH HARD CASE.  THIS ACCORDION AND CASE ARE IN EXCEPTIONALLY FINE CONDITION FOR THEIR AGE!

WEIGHT:  THE ACCORDION WEIGHS 22 POUNDS WHILE THE ANTIQUE HARD CASE WEIGHS ABOUT 10 POUNDS.

ODORS:  THE ACCORDION AND CASE SMELL FINE WITH NO MILDEW, TOBACCO, OR MUSTY SMELLS.

BODY OF ACCORDION:  SOME SCRATCHES EXIST ON THE BACKSIDE CELLULOID FINISH WHICH MAY BE POLISHED OUT.

REEDS:  THE REED CONFIGURATION IS LOW (Basoon), MIDDLE (Clarinet), and HIGH (piccolo); SEE TREBLE REED BLOCKS PHOTO.

TUNING:  RATHER WET LIKE A HARMONICA; THIS ACCORDION IS NOT BASSOON DOMINANT LIKE MANY MODERN ACCORDIONS.  I DO NOT KNOW THE PRECISE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE TUNING OF THIS VINTAGE ACCORDION.

TONE CHAMBER:  NO TONE CHAMBER (SEE PHOTO OF TREBLE REEDS)

TREBLE SWITCHES:  THERE IS A PALM REGISTER ALONG THE EDGE OF THE KEYBOARD WHICH ENABLES YOU TO CHANGE AMONG SEVERAL REED COMBINATIONS WHICH ARE SHOWN IN A WINDOW COUPLER INDICATOR NEAR YOUR CHIN (DEPENDING HOW MANY TIMES YOU PUSH ON THE PALM REGISTER).  THE PALM REGISTER SEEMS TO FUNCTION SMOOTHLY.

BASS SWITCHES:  THERE IS ONE BASS BAR WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO CHANGE THE BASS REGISTRATIONS. THE SETTING IS SHOWN IN A SMALL WINDOW ON TOP OF THE BASS MACHINE AND THE MECHANISM FUNCTIONS AS IT SHOULD.  

BELLOWS:  SHOW VERY LITTLE WEAR AT ALL AND THE SIXTY BELLOW CORNERS ARE LEVEL, BRIGHT, AND TIGHTLY SEATED.  THE BELLOWS ARE WHITE LINED WITH BLACK EDGE TAPE AND ARE AS ORIGINAL.  THERE ARE FOURTEEN DEEP BELLOW FOLDS.

HARDWARE:  GENERALLY SHINY SHOWING SOME VERY MINOR WEAR.  THERE IS NO RUST OR FLAKING.

STRAPS:   BLACK LEATHER ITALIAN SHOULDER STRAPS IN GOOD SHAPE; THE SHINY MESH BELLOW STRAPS AND SNAPS APPEAR VERY GOOD FOR THEIR AGE; THE BASS STRAP IS OF ITALIAN LEATHER WITHOUT THE TYPICAL CRACKING AT WRIST LEVEL AND IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION.

SERIAL NUMBER:   "MADE IN ITALY " ON THE BACKSIDE AND "CAMERANO, ITALY" ON THE FRONT LOGOS.  THIS WAS TYPICAL FOR SCANDALLI'S OF THE 1930'S.

COMPRESSION:  NEEDS TO BE TIGHTER WHICH MEANS REED LEATHERS, TREBLE VALVE PADS, SHOULD BE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE EACH THEY ARE LEAK FREE.  I AM NOT IMPLYING THAT ALL THESE THINGS ARE BAD, BUT THEY ARE POSSIBLE SOURCES OF COMPRESSION LOSS.  I WOULD START WITH THE TREBLE KEYS PADS UNDER THE GRILL. 

KEYBOARD:  SIMULATED IVORY SMOOTH KEY TOPS. KEYBOARD REASONABLY LEVEL.  THERE IS ONE KEY WITH A WEAK KEY SPRING.  I BELIEVE IT IS "F" ABOVE LOW "C".

BASS BOARD:  THE 120 BLACK BUTTONS PLAY SMOOTHLY AND QUIETLY AS THEY WERE DESIGNED TO.  THE "C" BASS IS MARKED WITH AN INDENT AS USUAL. 

TONE COUPLERS:  ALL OF THEM SEEM TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED.

TREBLE GRILL:  SEE PHOTO(S).  FANCY PAINTED DESIGN OF BLACK PLASTIC WITH NEW GRILL CLOTH.  THERE ARE TWO GRILL MOUNT SCREWS FOR EASY ACCESS TO THE TREBLE KEY VALVE PADS, THE TREBLE KEY RODS, AND THE GRILL CLOTH AREA.

CHEST PLATE:  CELLULOID COVERED WOOD.

BACK PAD:  I CAN INSTALL A PREMIUM REMOVABLE BACK PAD (WITHOUT DRILLING HOLES) IF YOU LIKE FOR $22.00 EXTRA WHICH MINIMIZES THE EFFECTS OF PERSPIRATION, PROTECTS THE BELLOWS AND BODY OF THE ACCORDION, AND PROVIDES A NICE CUSHION BETWEEN YOUR CHEST AND THE ACCORDION.  THIS VINTAGE ACCORDION DID NOT HAVE A BACK PAD.

INTERNAL MICS:  NONE

REED BLOCKS:  APPEAR GOOD WITH NO WARPING; THE DURALUMINUM REED PLATES AND REED TONGUES CAN BE SEEN IN THE PHOTOS.  THE REED TONGUES FUNCTION FREELY THROUGHOUT; THE REED LEATHERS ARE LAYING SOMEWHAT FLAT, BUT OTHERS NEED TO BE REPLACED TO GET THE BEST SOUNDS AND TO CONSERVE AIR.  THE REEDS HAVE A VERY NICE MUSETTE QUALITY WHICH MANY LISTENERS WILL FIND QUITE PLEASING.

HARD CASE:  OLIVE STAINED ALLIGATOR CASE WITH THE ORIGINAL RUST COLORED CORDUROY LINING.  CASE MANUFACTURED BY GEIB OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. THERE ARE THREE SNAP CLOSURES AND GOOD HARDWARE THROUGHOUT.  THIS CASE IS IN REMARKABLE CONDITION FOR ITS AGE AND THE CASE CANNOT ACCIDENTLY OPEN.  THE CASE HANDLE IS WRAPPED IN CHAMOIS LEATHER FOR EXTRA COMFORT.  THE LID HINGE LOCK FUNCTIONS FINE TO KEEP THE CASE LID FROM ACCIDENTLY FALLING DOWN AS YOU REMOVE AND PUT AWAY THE ACCORDION.  SEE PHOTOS.

GENERAL CONDITION:  I HAVE PLAYED THE ACCORDION FOR 55 YEARS AND HAVE NOT SEEN A VINTAGE 1930'S SCANDALLI IN BETTER " AS ORIGINAL" CONDITION.  IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN HANDLED WITH MUCH CARE.  IT IS VERY CLEAN THROUGHOUT AND WITH NEW LEATHERS, MINIMAL SPOT TUNING, SHOULD MAKE A FINE VINTAGE INSTRUMENT TO BE PLAYED AND ENJOYED AT A REASONABLE COST.  ONCE THE AIR COMPRESSION IS IMPROVED AS NOTED ABOVE, YOU WILL DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE PLAYABILITY. WITH SOME MINOR KEYBOARD WORK, YOU WILL HAVE A VERY NICE INSTRUMENT, INDEED.  I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ACCORDION GO TO A PLAYER WHO WILL RESTORE THE INSTRUMENT AND PLAY IT  REGULARLY.  SOME OF THE FIXING COULD BE DONE BY AN AMATEUR, BUT THESE REEDS DESERVE APPROPRIATELY SIZED AND SELECTED VEGETABLE TANNED REED LEATHERS AND SPOT TUNING BY A QUALIFIED ACCORDION TECH OR SOMEONE WHO IS VERY PRACTICED REGARDING REED WORK, IN MY OPINION.  THEN YOU WILL HAVE THE MOST FUN WITH THIS ACCORDION AND IT WILL PERFORM VERY WELL AND SING AGAIN.

RATIONALE FOR SELLING:  I COLLECT AND PLAY ACCORDIONS, BUT MOST OF MY PROFESSIONAL PLAY INVOLVES DIGITAL ORCHESTRA / ACOUSTIC ACCORDIONS.  WITH 35+ GIGS PER MONTH, WORKING ON REMODELING MY BASEMENT STUDIO,  SEEING MY NEW GRANDSON, HAVING TIME TO RESTORE MY VINTAGE BOXES, AND SELLING 15 ACCORDIONS, MEANS TIME IS PRACTICALLY NON-EXISTENT FOR ME TO WORK ON MY VINTAGE ACCORDIONS TO REFURBISH OR RESTORE THEM! 

SALE TERMS:  SOLD AS-IS WITH PAYMENT BY CASHIERS CHECK ONLY.  BUYER PROVIDES ME WITH THEIR PERSONAL USPS ADDRESS, PHONE, AND EMAIL ADDRESS AND PAYMENT SENT WITHIN 3 BUSINESS DAYS FOR OVER-SIZE SHIPPING TO INCLUDE INSURANCE BASED UPON THE FINAL SALE PRICE AND DESTINATION.  THE BUYER IS TO PAY FOR THE PACKING MATERIALS TO INCLUDE LARGE BUBBLE WRAP, PACKING TAPE, LARGE CARTON, FOAM PEANUTS, AND THE TIME SPENT IN SHIMMING THE BASSES SO THEY CANNOT COLLAPSE DURING SHIPMENT.  I ALSO CUT SIDE HANDLES INTO THE LARGE CARTON SO THE SHIPPERS MINIMIZE ABUSING IT.  ADDITIONALLY, I MAKE RED "FRAGILE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT SIGNS" TO TAPE ON THE SIDES OF THE CARTON.  I HAVE PACKED SCORES OF ACCORDIONS AND THEY HAVE ALWAYS HAVE ARRIVED IN THE CONDITION THEY LEFT MY HOME IN.  THE TOTAL SHIPPING, INSURANCE, AND PACKING COSTS ARE TYPICALLY $55-65.00 FOR UPS INSURED GROUND AND A BIT MORE FOR FASTER SHIPPING.  IT IS YOUR CHOICE.  GOOD LUCK!

CONTACT:  BY PHONE AT (319) 277-6904 OR EMAIL AT uhlrl@cfu.net  FEEL FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS

Since I listed this Scandalli Delfino, I have performed the following to improve the air compression:  PLEASE READ

A weak keyspring has been replaced.

A leaking treble key valve has been repaired.

I decided to install a new back pad for the new owner.

I will include new Neotech megastrap shoulder straps if the accordion and case sell for what they are worth.

The accordion was played for a couple hours and improved compression was such that songs could be played with bellow changes after four measures.What remains is to rewax the reeds and install new reed leathers.  Personally, while the waxing is being done, I'd rewax the treble key pads as well. This accordion is a quality instrument needing normal maintenance after about 75years.  The reeds are excellent and worth the refurbishing and this accordion needs to be played.  Oh, another detail would be to set the key travel just a little more shallow by adding thicker adhesive felt under the treble keys.  This is easy because there is a tool stored under the Scandalli grill that unhooks each key spring so you can remove keys individually as needed. You can then add self-adhesive felt strips to adjust the black and white keys travel distance taking care not to add so much felt that the treble valve pads don't open sufficiently.   Incidentally, in further polishing the accordion, I found the Serial # 1470 stamped on the back of the accordion.  The accordion just glistens and plays nicely.