Identifying a couple of horns

Howard Solotroff · 12-28-2005, 12:04 PM

I could use a little help zeroing in on the manufacture date of a Bach Mercedes II
Eb cornet (recently purchased). The number is 577942 and I suspect that it was made in the period 1995-2000. A Selmer/Bach representative that I spoke to recently was of no help.
Also, does anyone know anything about a Hungarian instrument maker named
Janos Lenhardt - active in the city of Pecs. I have one of his (alto?) trumpets that
I plan to further restore.
Thanks for anything!

radiobob · 01-10-2006, 12:37 AM

found this on a quick Google search:

Lenhardt, János (1880, ? – 1931, Pécs)
Museum of Music History
János Lenhardt was a maker and dealer of instruments. He produced harps and brasses. His workshop was in Király Street in Pécs.

Bob

Howard Solotroff · 01-10-2006, 01:29 PM

Thanks Bob.
The Google information is about all I know as there is little else about this
person/firm in English that I have found. I have written to a couple of people in Hungary to see what they can add-if anything.
HS

Howard Solotroff · 06-19-2006, 10:59 PM

An update on the Lenhardt alto trumpet.
1. As the seller's identity is established ONLY on an attached escutcheon, and
2. I find a remarkable similarity between this horn and those, from the same
time frame (post WW1), manufactured in Austria - such as Stowasser, and as
3. Hungary had only achieved indepenance from Austria following the 1918
Armistice and peace agreements, and was probably still quite attached
commercially - I think it fair to conjecture that Lenhardt, Janos was simply
a retailer who, in effect, "stencilled" instruments made elsewhere. The only references to him seem to be as having had the shop in Pecs (Funfkirschen)
until his death in 1931.
Now - can anyone help in backround on the Austrian brass manufacturers?
Thanks one and all

tom turner · 06-30-2006, 01:08 AM

Hi,

I think you are correct that this was a stencil. Heck, there were TONS of stencils make each year back in the glory days of the brass band craze around the world.

Many were quite fine . . . some were not. All were made so retailers could have their own private label brand that could not be "price shopped," and thus, the store could make a profit and remain in business!

Alas, hundreds if not thousands of brands still rest in cases in attics around the world . . . one day to resurface on ebay. Sadly, not much data seems to remain on most makers . . . including many of the great ones of 75+ years ago.

None of this diminishes the contributions, and the unique instruments, of these many makers and shops!

Sincerely,

Tom Turner

12-28-2005, 12:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Howard Solotroff New Friend Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 12	Identifying a couple of horns I could use a little help zeroing in on the manufacture date of a Bach Mercedes II Eb cornet (recently purchased). The number is 577942 and I suspect that it was made in the period 1995-2000. A Selmer/Bach representative that I spoke to recently was of no help. Also, does anyone know anything about a Hungarian instrument maker named Janos Lenhardt - active in the city of Pecs. I have one of his (alto?) trumpets that I plan to further restore. Thanks for anything!

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01-10-2006, 12:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
radiobob New Friend Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Old Northside B&B, Indy, Indiana Posts: 14	found this on a quick Google search: Lenhardt, János (1880, ? – 1931, Pécs) Museum of Music History János Lenhardt was a maker and dealer of instruments. He produced harps and brasses. His workshop was in Király Street in Pécs. Bob

01-10-2006, 01:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
Howard Solotroff New Friend Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 12	Thanks Bob. The Google information is about all I know as there is little else about this person/firm in English that I have found. I have written to a couple of people in Hungary to see what they can add-if anything. HS

06-19-2006, 10:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Howard Solotroff New Friend Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 12	An update on the Lenhardt alto trumpet. 1. As the seller's identity is established ONLY on an attached escutcheon, and 2. I find a remarkable similarity between this horn and those, from the same time frame (post WW1), manufactured in Austria - such as Stowasser, and as 3. Hungary had only achieved indepenance from Austria following the 1918 Armistice and peace agreements, and was probably still quite attached commercially - I think it fair to conjecture that Lenhardt, Janos was simply a retailer who, in effect, "stencilled" instruments made elsewhere. The only references to him seem to be as having had the shop in Pecs (Funfkirschen) until his death in 1931. Now - can anyone help in backround on the Austrian brass manufacturers? Thanks one and all

06-30-2006, 01:08 AM	#5 (permalink)
tom turner Mezzo Forte User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 788	Hi, I think you are correct that this was a stencil. Heck, there were TONS of stencils make each year back in the glory days of the brass band craze around the world. Many were quite fine . . . some were not. All were made so retailers could have their own private label brand that could not be "price shopped," and thus, the store could make a profit and remain in business! Alas, hundreds if not thousands of brands still rest in cases in attics around the world . . . one day to resurface on ebay. Sadly, not much data seems to remain on most makers . . . including many of the great ones of 75+ years ago. None of this diminishes the contributions, and the unique instruments, of these many makers and shops! Sincerely, Tom Turner

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