This is my Bassano Family melodeon. In April 1850, my great-great-grandparents, Francis and Mary (Willetts) Bassano, immigrated from Birmingham, England to New Orleans, Louisiana, then up the Red River by barge and overland by wagon to Paris, Texas. They were a very musical family (documented descent from the Bassano brothers who immigrated from Venice, Italy to serve as court musicians for English King Henry VIII). Francis and his son, Francis, were both formally-trained organists, playing in their homes and the Paris churches for many years. They farmed and owned a grist mill, too. I do not know the exact date, but I believe they bought this melodeon circa 1855, as the newly patented Divided Swell would have greatly appealed to them. I am the 5th generation to own this melodeon, and it has been maintained in very good-to-excellent condition. At some point, I will donate it, as well as the matching stool, to the Lamar County, Texas Historical Society Museum (Paris, Texas). Text inside :Improved Melodeon No. 21,753 with Divided Swell", "Improved Melodeon Patented 26 Dec., 1846" and "Divided Swell Patented 22 May, 1855".