The History of Ranco Accordions
By John Crawford (Freuchie)
Antonio, Fratello and Guiseppe Ranco began building accordions in Vercelli, northern Italy in 1890. They were the first to manufacture accordions in that area. All three were, I think, brothers. They opened a factory in 1912. They were pioneers in the art of accordion construction. They made many different models, including ‘specials’ for stage stars of the day and top accordionists from all over the world.
Ranco manufactured piano and button instruments, two and three row diatonics and three, four, five and six row Continentals with B or C systems. They also experimented with variations such as a right hand with piano keys plus two or three rows of buttons on the outside of the keyboard.
Some of the innovative features on Ranco accordions were as follows – the treble and bass pallets were floating, so that they could lie at an angle and ensure perfect bedding with no loss of air. Some of the ‘specials’ had leather on the sound board which helped to seal and quieten the pallet noise.
The reed plate were made from Duralium, not aluminium. This metal gives a far better tone to the instrument than any other metal. The reed tongues are Swiss cobalt steel. The reed plates are fitted on the bridges to the bare wood and are pinned and glued – no wax was used. A thin acoustic membrane placed on the solid wood of the casework increases the tonal strength of the instrument to a considerable extent. This amplification system could penetrate to the farthest corners of the largest auditorium which was a necessity in the days before electric amplification.
All Ranco accordions were guaranteed for five years for defects and workmanship.
Antonio Ranco had three sons, Antonio Jnr, Luigi and Guglielmo. Luigi went on his own and built accordions to order. He built a three row, three voice, 72 bass, diatonic for Emile Vacher which he used for his first 78s. Guglielmo also went on his own and made good instruments. Antonio Jnr had a son Guiseppe, who is today building Ranco accordions. Antonio Jnr himself died in 1966.
In 1926 the Ranco brothers employed over sixty workers. It was a sad day when the Ranco factory closed down in the 1960s but it was a boost for Hohner and others and in particular for the Morino and Atlantic models at that time. Antonio Snr did not allow his sons to use the Ranco name on the reeds – only Antonio Jnr was permitted to do so. In 1935 you could buy a 4 voice Ranco for £57. The Supervox was, and still is, the best Ranco ever built. They were available in four and five voices.
I hope the new instruments being made today are of the same quality.
Box and Fiddle
January 2003
Ranco manufactured piano and button instruments, two and three row diatonics and three, four, five and six row Continentals with B or C systems. They also experimented with variations such as a right hand with piano keys plus two or three rows of buttons on the outside of the keyboard.
Some of the innovative features on Ranco accordions were as follows – the treble and bass pallets were floating, so that they could lie at an angle and ensure perfect bedding with no loss of air. Some of the ‘specials’ had leather on the sound board which helped to seal and quieten the pallet noise.
The reed plate were made from Duralium, not aluminium. This metal gives a far better tone to the instrument than any other metal. The reed tongues are Swiss cobalt steel. The reed plates are fitted on the bridges to the bare wood and are pinned and glued – no wax was used. A thin acoustic membrane placed on the solid wood of the casework increases the tonal strength of the instrument to a considerable extent. This amplification system could penetrate to the farthest corners of the largest auditorium which was a necessity in the days before electric amplification.
All Ranco accordions were guaranteed for five years for defects and workmanship.
Antonio Ranco had three sons, Antonio Jnr, Luigi and Guglielmo. Luigi went on his own and built accordions to order. He built a three row, three voice, 72 bass, diatonic for Emile Vacher which he used for his first 78s. Guglielmo also went on his own and made good instruments. Antonio Jnr had a son Guiseppe, who is today building Ranco accordions. Antonio Jnr himself died in 1966.
In 1926 the Ranco brothers employed over sixty workers. It was a sad day when the Ranco factory closed down in the 1960s but it was a boost for Hohner and others and in particular for the Morino and Atlantic models at that time. Antonio Snr did not allow his sons to use the Ranco name on the reeds – only Antonio Jnr was permitted to do so. In 1935 you could buy a 4 voice Ranco for £57. The Supervox was, and still is, the best Ranco ever built. They were available in four and five voices.
I hope the new instruments being made today are of the same quality.
Box and Fiddle
January 2003