The original Paolo Soprani company which breathed life into Castelfidardo and gave us the classic Irish button-box is no more. There is thus a thriving second-hand market, and good older instruments fetch big prices out of all proportion to their original cost. Models from the 1950's and 1960's are the most sought after as some types have lower-set buttons and a lighter action making them easier to play fast. I personally know of several which changed hands for over $1500 in the past year. As you will see at any pub session, céilí or Fleadh, the button accordion in its many forms is still at the heart of Irish traditional music in the 21st Century and in spite of the variety of new makes now available, for many box players an old Paolo is still the instrument of choice.
Thanks to all those who supplied me with inspiration, information and illustrations for this article including James McElheran (Antrim), John McGurran (Belfast), Pat Diamond (Derry), Jim Coogan & John Nolan (USA), Han Speek (Netherlands), Seán Garvey (Dublin), the Commune of Castelfidardo, the International Accordion Museum, Accordions Worldwide, and members of the IrishBox Internet Group. All illustrations used with permission.
John Nolan, the first native-born Irish-American to win the All-Ireland button-accordion title, with his aluminium grill Paolo.
Some Internet Sources of accordion information:
Accordion Museum: www.comune.castelfidardo.an.it/Visitatori/ Fisarmonica/fisa_index.htm
Han Speek's Irish Squeezebox: http://www.xs4all.nl/~hspeek/irishbox/
Jim Coogan's Box Office: http://members.aol.com/jimattheboxofc/
Chris Moran's Button Accordion: http://www.buttonaccordion.com/
Gerard Dole's Accordion History: http://membres.lycos.fr/accordionstory/
The Button Box: http://www.buttonbox.com/
Urs & Monique Nydegger's Swiss Folkmusic: www.folkmusic.ch/
Irish Box Discussion Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/irishbox/
Accordions Worldwide: http://www.accordions.com/museum
Seán Garvey: http://www.allaboutaccordions.com
Accordion Internet Links: http://www.accordionlinks.com/
Seán Quinn, November 2004 Text only file of this article << BACK TO START
My very own Paolo: a 9-coupler model from the 1980s. A tad heavy, but great sound !