Episode 08 – Clavietta – P. Seiller and A. Borel, 1958

Contrary to what the name might suggest, this is not an Italian but a French instrument, designed by André Borel. The Clavietta is the piano keyboard version of the button accordina. The patent was registered in 1957 by Mr. Seiller, Director of the Paul Beuscher company, the most important Parisian musical instrument dealer.

It is from this date that the Clavietta is marketed, as far as the United States. The production was carried out in Italy. Two acoustic versions were produced with 25 and 34 notes on the keyboard and an electro-acoustic version. The advertisement of the time indicated that it was “an accordion transformed into a mouth instrument”.

To be continued…