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Old 11-09-2015, 06:07 AM
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Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
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Join Date: 01-18-2007
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All of the names you mention are trade names for factory items. Not makers except the REAL Pfretzschner family of bow makers. Not to be confused with the BRAND name of G.A Pfret. as seen on basses and such. That is a made up name in that case. Ga Pf, Morelli and Jacobus Hornsteiner are all fictitious names made up by Grossman music in Cleveland in the early 20th century. No such names ever made basses or violins.

Trade business was SO profitable in the late 19th century that companies like Lowendall in Germany and J.T. Lamy in France set up branches in both USA and the UK for the sole purpose of export grade instruments and bows. Business was GOOD. The Juzek family started in 1920 with Czech. Music Co. and later changed the name to Metropolitan Music in NYC. In their 1934 catalog (which I have!), they list every kind of instruments for sale, banjos, tubas, guitars and of course the various grades of Juzek instruments from violins to basses. The bows listed are other brand names, not Juzek. There were no big music stores back then so there were several importers that sold to schools and individuals and even small shops then. This I am sure was the same as in Europe as I have read about shops selling their brand of basses and trombones as well. So, probably re-branded instruments for some and others maybe made there. No one knows.
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