Founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota by Edward and Dorothy Traficante, Titano Accordions began in the early 1950s as a response to the need for quality instruments for their music schools. The Traficantes traveled to Castelfidardo, Italy — the birthplace of the accordion — to create top-tier instruments, and thus, Titano was born.
Blending modern innovation with traditional Italian craftsmanship, Titano quickly became a leader in quality and performance. In 1965, Ernest Deffner acquired the company and appointed his wife, Faithe Deffner, to oversee its growth. Under her guidance, Titano expanded its product line, supported university-level accordion education, and built a strong distribution network throughout North America.
North American distribution of Titano accordions grew substantially through a network of the area’s foremost music schools and teachers, notably driven by Fred Kent and Loren Cartwright in Winnipeg, making it the top brand in North America. Throughout the design process, Ernest Deffner has collaborated with leading accordion classicists such as Dr Willard Palmer and Bill Hughes (famed for their Palmer-Hughes Accordion Course), Robert Davine, William Schimmel, Pauline Oliveros, Donald Balestrieri, Carmelo Pino, William Popp, Prof. Joan Cochran Sommers, Harley Jones, Yuan Fang, Carl Elmer, Lloyd LaVaux amongst others refining the instruments to meet professional and academic standards.
Titano pioneered the quint converter free bass system, offering accordionists extended capabilities while maintaining familiar stradella note patterns and compact size and over the years Titano accordions have become the standard for use in colleges and universities which offered the instrument as a major course of study. The first such program commenced in 1946 at the University of Houston in Texas, where Dr Palmer introduced the accordion to scores of young musicians who went on to major on the instrument.
In 1957, Allan William Jones introduced Titano to New Zealand. His wife Marie and son Maurice continued and expanded the business throughout Australia and the South Pacific.
In 2007, Frank Busso Jr. of Busso Music took over North American distribution. A professional accordionist and educator, Busso continued the legacy while modernizing the brand. In 2009, Faithe Deffner launched a refreshed logo and website, and was honoured in New Zealand for her service to the accordion community. She passed away in 2014, leaving a significant mark on the industry.
Today, Titano remains a top choice among concert artists, educators, and students alike. Titano has been the accordion brand of choice for dozens of US national champions. Titano enjoys great prominence in concert halls, at colleges, and among top name accordion orchestras. The list of important soloists, groups, and orchestras featuring Titano accordions attests to Titano's dedication to the accordionist.
Handcrafted with precision for generations, Titano accordions offer responsive keyboards, rich tonal color, and elegant design — meeting the needs of beginners and professionals alike with instruments that continue to inspire excellence.
