My Teacher's Mittenwald [ID help?]

[Steve Robinson]

Hi Ken & Co.:

I'm working on a project to restore my teacher's fully carved Mittenwald shop bass. As we go forward, I would love to know if people have any insight about this particular instrument based on these photos. We're going to have a very large top crack repaired and do some other restoration (you can see the crack pretty clearly--it's on the treble side of the upper bout). Believe it or not, Nick is currently gigging on the bass and it sounds pretty good. I think it will be a much nicer bass once we complete the repairs.

The label inside reads: "Franz Andreas Violinmacher / Mittenwald, Garmisch Faciebat Anno 1951 / Made In Germany U.S. Zone BKN." Some documentation that Nick has for the bass mentions another name (Jan Kriml) but that does not appear inside the bass.

Have you seen a Mittenwald shop bass like this before? Is this a familiar label? Any information would be great, and thanks!

--Steve

Photos (click on them for larger versions)

[Ken Smith]

Never heard of that name but I can look it up in my German makers book when I get to the shop in the next day or so, Monday at the latest.

It looks just like a Wilfer Bass to me in shape, wood and varnish. With a Label like that, it could just be an import label and name but made by Wilfer who has made many re-labeled basses over time.

[Steve Robinson]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

With a Label like that, it could just be an import label and name but made by Wilfer who has made many re-labeled basses over time.

Thanks, Ken. There is both a Franz and Andreas Wilfer; could that be a clue?

Thanks again!

--Steve

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Steve Robinson

Thanks, Ken. There is both a Franz and Andreas Wilfer; could that be a clue?

Thanks again!

--Steve

For an importer or dealers fictitious label, maybe but this is clearly an export/import type label. In 1951, the maker running the shop of these basses was probably Wenzel Wilfer. They also supplied Juzek.

[Ken Smith]

Ok, looked thru my German makers book. No such name listed regardless of first or last name. Most likely a dealers made up name but who knows. Nothing more to ID than the Bass itself, estimated origin and period made. It can only be judged by its own self-contained merits as there is no pedigree to be found as of yet.

This is a factory type made bass so for tooling and all, we would have heard about them. If it was an Italian that handmade a bass or two then it's a needle in a haystack but this is German Factory bass, period! If there was such a person or shop, I can't find it, sorry. It was probably made in the factory that made other basses of the exact same shape but sold under a different label, importer or store brand. Thus ends the search on my end.

[Ken Smith]

If you like, go to that town and see if that shop or person paid taxes under that name. In 1951, they were paying. The books I have are old and came out in the 1960's at the latest. If it was a new factory, it might not have made the books. But, Hofner, Framus and Wilfer were in business then in the same area so who made what for who? Who knows. Still, the name itself looks suspicious and the label is mixed German and English. A few years after the war the Germans printing English on labels? Only in the export business.

[Steve Robinson]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

...but this is German Factory bass, period!

Thank you so much, Ken. We can just say it's a 1950s German factory bass from Mittenwald, similar to a Wilfer/Juzek. I think that's enough. If I ever learn anything else about the label, etc. I will post here for your archives. Thanks again.

--Steve