MANUFACTURER BACKGROUND
The Star Concertina Manufacturing Company produced chemnitzer concertinas from facilities in the Chicago, Illinois area for over seventy years. The company has had several different names, including International Accordion Company, International Accordion & Concertina Manufacturing Company, Star Concertina Company, Imperial Accordion Company, Imperial Star Corporation, and Star Concertina and Music Company. The instruments were sold under various brand names, including International, Royal, Schuckert, Sitek and Star.
The Star Concertina factory and showroom have been located at several addresses through the years. The locations are presented here in chronological order.
Serial Numbers and Manufacture Dates
The following table provides the approximate year of manufacture for instruments with a serial number that falls within the range shown. Data is from Star Concertina records and visitor-supplied information. Date ranges will be adjusted to be more precise if and when additional data is obtained.
Serial Number : Manufacture Year
0000 – 0012 : 1925 and earlier
0013 – 0062 : 1926
0063 – 0113 : 1927
0114 – 0162 : 1928
0163 – 0198 : 1929
0199 – 0234 : 1930
0235 – 0275 : 1931
0276 – 0321 : 1932
0322 – 0372 : 1933
0373 – 0425 : 1934
0426 – 0481 : 1935
0482 – 0546 : 1936 (#506 first Streamline model)
0547 – 0598 : 1937
0599 – 1150 : 1948
1151 – 1250 : 1949
1251 – 1300 : 1950
1301 – 1400 : 1951
1401 – 1500 : 1952
1501 – 1575 : 1953
1576 – 1600 : 1954 – 1956
1601 – 1739 : 1957 – 1959
1740 – 1833 : 1960
1834 – 1929 : 1961
1930 – 2016 : 1962 – 1963 (Walter Kadlubowski Jr. started at 2001 in 08/1963)
2017 – 2100 : 1964
2101 – 2500 : 1965 – 1968
2501 – 2600 : 1969
2601 – 2627 : 1970
2628 – 2700 : 1971
2701 – 2750 : 1972
2751 – 2825 : 1973
2826 – 2900 : 1974
2901 – 3200 : 1975 – 1983
3201 – 3900 : 1984 – 1989
3901 – 3925 : 1990 (John Bernhardt started at 3919 in 09/1989)
3926 – 3940 : 1991
3941 – 3950 : 1992 – 1993
3951 – 3960 : 1994 (first Oldtimer model)
3961 – 3975 : 1995 – 1998
3976 – 3980 : 1999
3981 – 3995 : 2000
6600 – 6699 : 1966
6700 – 6799 : 1967
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Additional information can be found by using the Frequently Asked Questions feature. Please see the Glossary of Terms feature for simple definitions for many chemnitzer concertina related terms. If you have other concertina related questions, please visit the community supported Facebook Group.