Otto Rubner made basses over a span of several decades, primarily from the
1920s until his passing in 1963.
- The Family Origins: The Rubner workshop was established in 1885 in Markneukirchen, Germany—a globally recognized historic hub for string instrument production—by Otto's father, Josef Rubner (1864–1927).
- The Pre-War Golden Age: Otto Rubner (1885–1963) honed his craft building instruments alongside his father and eventually took over operations following Josef's death. The fully carved double basses produced by Otto before World War II are particularly celebrated by musicians today for their exceptional craftsmanship and the use of premium, highly resonant tonewoods.
- The Post-War Shift: After WWII, under the East German regime, independent instrument makers faced heavy regulations, and the Rubner workshop was eventually absorbed into the state-owned MUSIMA cooperative. While instruments bearing the Otto Rubner label continued to be manufactured into the 1960s, post-war material shortages made the earlier pre-war builds much more prized.