Pasquale Petromilli was born in Castlefidardo, Italy, the center of Italian accordion manufacturing, in about 1875, and as a boy learned the art of accordion craftsmanship. He married Adele Orciani in Castlefidardo, and their two oldest children, Armando and Dina were both born there.
In 1905, Paasquale brought his family to the United States and settled in San Francisco. After the great earthquake and fire in 1906, he bought the Guerrini Accordion Company with his brother Antonio and his friend from Castlefidardo Colombo Piatanessi, and they began manufacturing accordions in their shop at 279 Columbus Avenue. In 1908, they produced the first accordions completely manufactured in the United State. Pasqule and Adele's second son, Vincenzo, was born in San Francisco about 1911.
In 1927, the partnership between Pasquale and Colombo was dissolved. Colombo went on to found San Francisco's premier accordion manufacturing company, Colombo & Sons Accordion Company, which was located at 126 Columbus Avenue, and Pasquale became sole owner of the Guerrini Accordion Company. Pasquale was responsible for many improvements in the accordion, which until then had been considered a "primitive" instrument, suitable only for country festivals. One of his most significant improvements was the development of the chromatic keyboard, which led to the popularity of the accordion in the theatre and on the radio. Only the best Italian accordion craftsmen worked for Pasquale and the Guerrini accordions became popular throughout the world.
When Pasquale died in 1935, his son Armando took over management of the company, and it continued to produce fine accordions until his retirement in 1968.
--Biographical sketch by Des (#47520387), Sources: Ronald Flynn, Edwin Davison, and Edward Chavez, The Golden Age of the Accordion (Schertz, Texas: Flynn Associates Publishing Co., 1992); United States Works Projects Administration, The Musical Trade 1850-1940, History of Music in San Francisco Series, Vol. 13, (San Francisco: City and County of San Francisco, n.d.).
In 1905, Paasquale brought his family to the United States and settled in San Francisco. After the great earthquake and fire in 1906, he bought the Guerrini Accordion Company with his brother Antonio and his friend from Castlefidardo Colombo Piatanessi, and they began manufacturing accordions in their shop at 279 Columbus Avenue. In 1908, they produced the first accordions completely manufactured in the United State. Pasqule and Adele's second son, Vincenzo, was born in San Francisco about 1911.
In 1927, the partnership between Pasquale and Colombo was dissolved. Colombo went on to found San Francisco's premier accordion manufacturing company, Colombo & Sons Accordion Company, which was located at 126 Columbus Avenue, and Pasquale became sole owner of the Guerrini Accordion Company. Pasquale was responsible for many improvements in the accordion, which until then had been considered a "primitive" instrument, suitable only for country festivals. One of his most significant improvements was the development of the chromatic keyboard, which led to the popularity of the accordion in the theatre and on the radio. Only the best Italian accordion craftsmen worked for Pasquale and the Guerrini accordions became popular throughout the world.
When Pasquale died in 1935, his son Armando took over management of the company, and it continued to produce fine accordions until his retirement in 1968.
--Biographical sketch by Des (#47520387), Sources: Ronald Flynn, Edwin Davison, and Edward Chavez, The Golden Age of the Accordion (Schertz, Texas: Flynn Associates Publishing Co., 1992); United States Works Projects Administration, The Musical Trade 1850-1940, History of Music in San Francisco Series, Vol. 13, (San Francisco: City and County of San Francisco, n.d.).
Pasquale Petromilli was born in Castlefidardo, Italy, the center of Italian accordion manufacturing, in about 1875, and as a boy learned the art of accordion craftsmanship. He married Adele Orciani in Castlefidardo, and their two oldest children, Armando and Dina were both born there.
In 1905, Paasquale brought his family to the United States and settled in San Francisco. After the great earthquake and fire in 1906, he bought the Guerrini Accordion Company with his brother Antonio and his friend from Castlefidardo Colombo Piatanessi, and they began manufacturing accordions in their shop at 279 Columbus Avenue. In 1908, they produced the first accordions completely manufactured in the United State. Pasqule and Adele's second son, Vincenzo, was born in San Francisco about 1911.
In 1927, the partnership between Pasquale and Colombo was dissolved. Colombo went on to found San Francisco's premier accordion manufacturing company, Colombo & Sons Accordion Company, which was located at 126 Columbus Avenue, and Pasquale became sole owner of the Guerrini Accordion Company. Pasquale was responsible for many improvements in the accordion, which until then had been considered a "primitive" instrument, suitable only for country festivals. One of his most significant improvements was the development of the chromatic keyboard, which led to the popularity of the accordion in the theatre and on the radio. Only the best Italian accordion craftsmen worked for Pasquale and the Guerrini accordions became popular throughout the world.
When Pasquale died in 1935, his son Armando took over management of the company, and it continued to produce fine accordions until his retirement in 1968.
--Biographical sketch by Des (#47520387), Sources: Ronald Flynn, Edwin Davison, and Edward Chavez, The Golden Age of the Accordion (Schertz, Texas: Flynn Associates Publishing Co., 1992); United States Works Projects Administration, The Musical Trade 1850-1940, History of Music in San Francisco Series, Vol. 13, (San Francisco: City and County of San Francisco, n.d.).
In 1905, Paasquale brought his family to the United States and settled in San Francisco. After the great earthquake and fire in 1906, he bought the Guerrini Accordion Company with his brother Antonio and his friend from Castlefidardo Colombo Piatanessi, and they began manufacturing accordions in their shop at 279 Columbus Avenue. In 1908, they produced the first accordions completely manufactured in the United State. Pasqule and Adele's second son, Vincenzo, was born in San Francisco about 1911.
In 1927, the partnership between Pasquale and Colombo was dissolved. Colombo went on to found San Francisco's premier accordion manufacturing company, Colombo & Sons Accordion Company, which was located at 126 Columbus Avenue, and Pasquale became sole owner of the Guerrini Accordion Company. Pasquale was responsible for many improvements in the accordion, which until then had been considered a "primitive" instrument, suitable only for country festivals. One of his most significant improvements was the development of the chromatic keyboard, which led to the popularity of the accordion in the theatre and on the radio. Only the best Italian accordion craftsmen worked for Pasquale and the Guerrini accordions became popular throughout the world.
When Pasquale died in 1935, his son Armando took over management of the company, and it continued to produce fine accordions until his retirement in 1968.
--Biographical sketch by Des (#47520387), Sources: Ronald Flynn, Edwin Davison, and Edward Chavez, The Golden Age of the Accordion (Schertz, Texas: Flynn Associates Publishing Co., 1992); United States Works Projects Administration, The Musical Trade 1850-1940, History of Music in San Francisco Series, Vol. 13, (San Francisco: City and County of San Francisco, n.d.).
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