Touching in scratches

[Peter Koyander]

I have seen the many types of furniture makers wax sticks for doing repairs. I imagine that because the bass is thought to be around the 1980s that it will be eurethane type of finish - is it a case of trying to dab in some eurethane over the top of the wax to unite the glossy finish and then perhaps finish with a buffing cream? I can experiment but thought I would ask those who know first so as to get a pointer in the right direction !

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Peter Koyander

I have seen the many types of furniture makers wax sticks for doing repairs. I imagine that because the bass is thought to be around the 1980s that it will be eurethane type of finish - is it a case of trying to dab in some eurethane over the top of the wax to unite the glossy finish and then perhaps finish with a buffing cream? I can experiment but thought I would ask those who know first so as to get a pointer in the right direction !

I am talking about marker like pens that I think are alcohol based. Not a wax at all.

On the Hawkes, have you read this? http://www.smithbassforums.com/showt...ghlight=hawkes

From what I have seen, it can be possible that all the Panormo shaped models were imported from Germany. The H and F ones do not have outer linings but look like nearly the same bass. I have seen many of them that look slightly different suggesting that the contracted different shops in Germany to make them but there are no records.

These are all the Hawkes and Son basses and a few B&H when they merged with Boosey in the 1930s or so. What they made after the war in Bohemia or Hungary is beyond my knowledge.

On the H models, having examines one, it looks like it could be German as easily as English. If these were made in England, then by who, what shop? The man known as Robert Green that ran the string division doesn't seem all that possible to also be a maker of basses like these. I could be totally wrong but importing in the white from Germany is equally possible. Just look at some of the later Tarr basses. This went on with all the string instruments, not just basses. Why make when you can import cheaper?

[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?

[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..

[Peter Koyander]

I guess it means that when somebody has a Bohemian styled bass and a label that says "Made in ..." its perhaps easier to put a date on it by virtue of the political regime in power at the time.

Anyhow thanks for info - I have sourced some colouring-in pens!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Peter Koyander

I guess it means that when somebody has a Bohemian styled bass and a label that says "Made in ..." its perhaps easier to put a date on it by virtue of the political regime in power at the time.

Anyhow thanks for info - I have sourced some colouring-in pens!

These are the ones I use, introduced to them by Arnold Schnitzer, Luthier, Builder.

Also, yes, you can get in general a time period by the politics but not always. If the bass was made earlier and exported later new or used, the 'made in' period is just when it was shipped out. I have such a bass now, my Uebel (Oobal). It has some old German label(s) inside from a repair or two from the late 19th or early 20th century that post date the making of the bass. We believe this bass came over used and got a sticker in it for Customs Duty reasons. That's my opinion on it because the repair label is hard to make out as it's faded and torn. I don't have the bass here so I forget how many labels are in there.

[Matthew Tucker]

nowadays I just touch in scratches with tinted shellac. I make up a few different shades, and clear, really thick (let the alcohol evaporate off till it's soupy), and keep them in those yellow lidded wee sample jars from the chemist.

Then I layer them with a good quality fine filbert brush until i match the shade and opacity i need. it takes a while to get good at it. i'm getting better.

I find a black shade is really useful, to darken without adding colour, as is one mixed with an ochre earth pigment to give some opacity. You need to look really closely at the varnish (with a loupe) to work out how to match it. A sprayed varnish is often speckled, and no matter how much you try to match it with painted on shellac colours, it just doesn't work! Oh and tint the bare wood if necessary first with a texta or strong tea or whatnot.