[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Peter Koyander

Before 1992 it looks like B + H used the Strunal factory in Luby to produce its instruments. Luby is located in a region originally known as the ‘Egerland’ - a popular area for instrument makers because of the good supply of local seasoned wood. What I know from research is that the Egerland was a hotspot for Bohemian manufacturers and was an area that was originally a part of Czechoslovakia . In 1806 the Egerland was taken over by the aggressively expanding Austro Hungarian Empire and became an expansion of their 'Bohemia' Region ( ' Made in Bohemia / Made in Austro-Hungary ' ).

Under Austro Hungarian control, German speaking people were numerous in the Egerland. However at the end of the first World War in 1919, with the Austro Hungarian Empire in pieces and the German people in defeat, the Egerland and all the factories in the area reverted back to being a part of Czechoslovakia ( i.e. now making instruments 'Made in Czechoslovakia ') !

By the 1930’s The Egerland hit hard times due to the instrument making industry going into a deep slump in the European economic depression and political unrest in lead up to World War 2 . Furthermore in 1933 the Nazis came into power and the predominantly german speaking people of Egerland wanted ‘out’ of Czech rule. In 1938 , with Hitler in power, the Egerland became ‘annexed’ and went into German ownership by International Agreement ( the Luby factory without moving location, now produced instruments 'Made in Germany').

Following the defeat of the Germans in WW2 , 1945 , the Egerland region became yet again a part of Czechoslovakia. The Strunal factory in Luby to this day produces instruments 'Made in Czechoslovakia'!

Makes you wonder whether B+ H have always outsourced to the same factory just the label on the region has changed from Austria to Czechoslovakia, to Germany and back to Czechoslovakia again?

Interesting..