Expert: Kenton Scott - 12/14/2011

Question
Hello Kenton - I have recently purchased a GDR era Hans Hoyer french horn and I'm interested to find out more about GDR musical instruments. I have spent many hours browsing the English language internet without much success. The pre-WW2 history of Kruspe, Alexander, Lidl, Knopf, Schmidt, etc is reasonably well documented. Apparently, Saxony made 80 percent of the world's musical instruments prior to WW1. Then there is a sort of 25 year gap before B&S and others emerge. Obviously, many of the artisans who worked in the GDR are still alive but nowhere can I find registers of serial numbers or information on which of the old-school workshops contributed to my modern instrument. Perhaps there is a considerable history documented on German language websites? Do you have any advice or comments?

Answer
First a comment on serial number lists:  Most serial number lists that are available are reconstructions done by fans of historical instruments, not renderings from official company documents.  The company's survival is based on selling the next instrument, spending much effort on horns already sold only bogs them down. And only some makers assigned serial numbers to instruments in a fashion that can be converted to a chronological listing.  Some use multple lists for different types of instruments, some assigned a number in early stages of production and parts for completing instruments were selected from a pile rather in numerical order. etc.

In the mid to late 1940s, companies in this area were nationalized.  I believe that B&S came into existence in the musical instrument world in 1953.  And, from then on B&S made slow progess in developing a range of instruments from student to top quality.  They took what had been distinct brands and converted them basically into trade names.  

I suspect that the history of instrument makers after they are merged into conglomerates like B&S, Conn-Selmer, etc. hold less interest.  The brand names used by conglomerates, are in fact, model names and as such are much less significant.  

Probably the sources for more information would be the forums.  8notes, The Horn Forum, Mellocast may be options.  Additionally, the Horn-u-copia.net forum has European members that may have more detailed information to share.