Nathan Longo is rarely without “Sparkles,” his Italian accordion from the early 1960s, which he plays most often. The 74-year-old Vermont man has found his passion not only in playing the accordion, but also in fixing them and keeping the instrument alive for future generations. What was supposed to be something to do in retirement has turned into a 30-hour-a-week job.
“There aren’t many people that fix accordions,” Longo said. “I’m a lot busier than I ever thought I would be.” Longo is one of a handful of people who work on accordions in New England. His small workshop sits a block away from Vermont’s “Golden Dome” statehouse.“And I’m a lot better fixing them than I am playing them,” he said.
