THE ACCORDION MANUFACTURERS
There are many accordion manufacturers, especially in Italy. Here are some of them, in alphabetic order:
Accordiola (France)
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Installed in the heart of Périgord Noir in the town of Sarlat, the French factory of accordions ACCORDIOLA offers a complete range of instruments made in the purest artisanal tradition of the instrumental manufacturing. Thanks to a permanent research, and with the contribution of modern technologies, the constant improvements made to the instruments maintain the Accordiola accordions on the top of the world manufacturing. These accordions are particularly appreciated for their lightness, their powerful and reliable mechanics and their special sonority adapted to each use. |
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Cavagnolo (France-Italy)
| The House "CAVAGNOLO" is founded in 1904 in Vercelli (Italy) by Domenico CAVAGNOLO. A factory exists in Lyons area. All the accordions are entirely thought, designed and manufactured in the factory of Beynost located close to Lyon. CAVAGNOLO, mythical brand, known by the whole world and always leader in term of innovation, was and is still today the "engine of ideas" for the world of the accordion. CAVAGNOLO is the designer (since 1985) of the extraordinary numerical concept ODYSSEE which still revolutionizes today the world of the accordion by the weights and the incredible musical possibilities with version ODYSSEE 3. |  |
Cooperfisa (Italy)
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Cooperfisa (in the past Cooperativa Armoniche) is a high quality brand coming from the huge exprerience of the school of Vercelli, the only one which remains today in Piemont. It puts at your disposal the entirely artisanal production of accordions (chromatic, diatonic, bandoneon, piano keyboard). Since 1921, all the accordions are handmade and can be personalized according to the request of the musician. |
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Hohner (Germany)
| In 1903 in Trossigen (Germany), "Establishments HOHNER" begin the manufacture of diatonic accordions, followed by a second manufacturing unit in 1906. When the first models were launched in the world, the orders flowed in quantities. Since this period, HOHNER has continued to develop and improve its industrial tool to answer the unceasingly increasing request and to offer products of high quality to his many customers. In 1929, HOHNER France settles in Paris to market the harmonicas and the accordions made in Forêt Noire. In 1998, the powerful group of Taiwan K.H.S which has many manufacturing factories of musical instruments (MAPEX percussions, JUPITER brass) takes the majority of the capital of HOHNER group offering new possibilities of development by the use of its various manufacturing units in the world. |
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Maugein (France)
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During the employers' festival of Brive of August 26th, 1906, a competition of accordions, hurdy-gurdy, cabrette is organized; the "Dedenis House" (manufacture of accordions) offers an instrument to the winner of the competition of accordions.The winner is ...MAUGEIN from Tulle! After the Armistice of 1918, the factory recruits new staff and among the workmen appears Jean Maugein, came from Tulle where he is tuner of piano. The man, who has a strong character and a sharp mind, quickly understands the technique of the assembly of the accordions. Too much quickly according to the Dedenis House. One lets him understand that his place is somewhere else. He comes back to Tulle and starts to repair accordions and then to sell some. Quickly, he settles in a small workshop and starts to manufacture in 1919; his two brothers Antoine and Robert join him as well as a first workman. They put in place a new workshop in Tulle, from 1923; then, they will build a factory not far from there, at Cité Cazeau. In 1928, the Maugein factory is composed of twenty one workmen. It was the glory of the diatonic but, as the demand for chromatics appears, Maugein moved towards the manufacture of the chromatic accordions. In the Seventies, Maugein completely missed the renewed interest for the diatonic that the company perceives as outmoded. In 1981, the family calls on Mr. Rene Lachaize, a relative of the family, to manage the company which has difficulties. The municipality of Tulle decides to help the firm which belongs to the heritage of Tulle. It decides the construction of a new factory in an industrial estate of Tulle and rents it at the Maugein's firm. In 1984, the new factory is inaugurated. Associating modernized manufacture applied to a product of traditional work, the company Maugein, which is still eager to be a manufacturer, continually invests to guarantee an authentic and top-of-the-range instrument. The factory is composed of 38 people including approximately 30% of women. |
M. Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
M. René Lachèze |
Paolo Soprani (Italy)
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In 1963, at Castelfidardo, Paolo Soprani (1844 - 1918) creates the first manufacture of accordions in Italy.
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