Heligonka
In the Czech Republic, diatonic accordions with helicon bass are made under the name Heligonka .
description
The Heligonka differs from the Styrian harmonica only in a few points.
- In appearance
- The treble key alignment is slightly offset for the third row, as is the case with most Viennese models .
- The distance between the inner row and the treble cover is slightly smaller.
- The key assignment in the treble is usually without a common tone .
- The bass key assignment for the second row of keys corresponds to the usual assignment as with the Vienna model.
Bass part
The structure and design of the bass part correspond completely to a traditional Novak harmonica. It is currently unclear who has copied from whom. In almost all known instruments, double helicon voice plates with the dimensions that are common today are used. With a three-row instrument these are usually 6 double helicon voice plates , with two-row instruments four double helicon voice plates.
history
It is not known when the individual companies started producing Styrian harmonicas. What is certain is that it was before the end of the Austrian monarchy (1918). The Novak company in Klagenfurt , which still produces today, was founded in 1874, while the Lubas company from Slovenj Gradec (now Slovenia ), later also in Klagenfurt, also produced very early.
Most famous in the Czech Republic are instruments from the workshop of Josef Hlaváček . In the Markneukirchen Musical Instrument Museum there is a Heligonka by Josef Hlaváček, which is dated to 1900. In 1892 he brought out a harmonica school for autodidacts (Cesko-slovanska skola pro samouky ku hre na dvouradovou 19-klapkovou harmoniku. Böhm.-slav. - boh. Laun, Venta 1892.) Josef Hlaváček first ran his business in Louny , later he moved to Prague , in Louny there is still the reed plate production of the Harmonika company. At the beginning he worked with his brother-in-law Konstantin Stibitz, but disagreements among them led him to leave the company and also build instruments under his own name in České Budějovice . In addition to these two harmonica manufacturers, there were many others, for example J. Kebrdle in Hořovice .
With the Second World War , this tradition of instrument making was almost completely extinct.
Harmonica maker in Bohemia and Moravia
- Fraz Machts, accordion maker, 1860, Praha . Worked in Prague around 1860 as a “manufacturer and teacher for harmonica music”, published a collection of 40 popular melodies with instructions in German in 1860, with a focus on the 19-piece harmonica with 6 buttons. The first song in this collection is 'Kde domov můj' (Where my home is), followed by German and Czech folk tunes, works by Strauss such as the Radetzky March, etc.
- Karl Kabeláč, accordion maker, Praha . In 1878, together with the instrument maker Johann Müller, founded a harmonica manufacturer - company called "Johann Müller & Karl Kabela". Their instruments were awarded at the National Exhibition in Prague in 1891.
- Johann Müller, accordion maker, Praha .
- Josef Augustin Wolf, accordion maker, Praha . Son and student of the Prague instrument maker Josef Wolf. He ran his father's business from 1889 until his death in 1924.
- Wilhelm Lubich, accordion maker. Founded his company in 1880
- Karel Slavík, accordion maker, Louny . Built in the 1880s, where the future manufacturer Jan Hlaváček learned.
- Jan Klásek, harmonica maker, 1860–1930, Vídeň, Louny . At first he had a workshop in Vienna , from which he sent harmonica or harmoniums as semi-finished goods to (mainly) Louny.
- Rudolf Kalina (* 1888 in Louny, † 1963 ibid), harmonica maker. Initially worked in Jan Klasek's workshop. In the years 1920–1936 he went into business for himself several times and became known as a manufacturer of particularly high-quality instruments.
- Bedřich Pospíšil, accordion maker , built a harmonium in the 19th and early 20th centuries , which he supplied to manufacturers in Louny.
- Josef Korbel, accordion maker, Děčín . Produced harmonicas in the 1890s.
- Adolf Bartůněk, accordion maker, Kutná Hora . He founded his company in 1890.
- Wenzel Duchoň, accordion maker, 1890, Hořice . He made harmonicas in the 1890s.
- Anton Pitelka, accordion maker, 1890, České Budějovice (Budweis). Made harmonicas in the 1890s.
- Josef Šturm, accordion maker, 1890, Německý Brod . Made harmonicas in the 1890s.
- František Táborský, accordion maker, Praha . Built and repaired accordions in Prague in the early 20th century.
- Konstantin Stibitz, accordion maker, České Budějovice . He ran a small workshop in (Bohemian) Budweis, in which he produced high-quality individual items. According to American emigrants who knew him personally, he was also related by marriage to Josef Hlaváček.
- Josef Vavřín (* 1866 in Česká Třebová, † 1953), accordion maker, Česká Třebová . Was the son of Eduard and Anna Vavrina. He founded his workshop in Prague-Vinohrady in 1892 under the name "First North Bohemian Manufacturer of Accordions and Concertina". Due to the continued success, he soon had to move to larger rooms. His products were very popular and have received awards at various exhibitions. His harmonicas are coveted collector's items to this day. Married Maria Semberova, employee and successor was his son Bohumil (1897–1986).
- Josef Kebrdle, accordion maker, Hořovice . Production since 1919, trained musical instrument maker (not master).
- Later as a joint stock company Bohemia Musico-Delicia, the largest accordion manufacturer in Europe, production was discontinued in 2005.
- Zdeněk Koutný accordion service. Took over parts of the workforce and production and is currently (2006) continuing to produce.
- Antonín Kavečka, accordion maker, Hořovice . First half of the 20th century, left the workshop of the harmonica maker Josef Kebrdle in 1922 and started his own business in Hořovice.
- František Tvrdý, accordion maker, Hořovice . 1st half of the 20th century, left J. Kebrdle's workshop in 1922 and started his own business.
- František Trousílek, harmonica maker, Plzeň (Pilsen). 1st half of the 20th century
- Ignác Kajovský, accordion maker, Prague . Beginning of the 20th century, made accordions.
- Jaromír Fisnar (* 1903), accordion maker, Brno . Its relationship with the Brno manufacturer A. Fisner has not been established.
- Václav Kunt, accordion maker, Nový Bydžov . 1st half of the 20th century.
- Václav Langmajer, accordion maker, Praha . 1st half of the 20th century, accordions.
- Anton Spevák, accordion maker, Znojmo . 1st half of the 20th century.
- František Berka, accordion maker, Břeclav . 1st half of the 20th century.
- Konrády Jakub (* 1905), accordion maker, Domažlice . 1st half of the 20th century.
- Ludvík Hrneček, accordion maker. From 1930 he ran his own company in Prague , which produced both button and piano key accordions with the “Luhr” brand. Died in Prague in 1972.
- František L. Duchoň, harmonica maker, 1912, Náchod . Last harmonica manufacturer, founded before the First World War .
Manufacturers today
Until recently, Delicia produced accordions in Hořovice, the company closed in 2004. Zdeněk Koutný is currently running the successor company. Jiří Koucký, an accordion maker, runs an accordion center near Prague. Jan Svoren Krivan, Stanček Rudolf, Ottlýkovská 376/22 013 14 Kamenná Poruba (okres Žilina) Slovakia.
E&R Jelinek Heligonka.
Web links
- Website of Zdeněk Koutný
- Jiří Koucký's website
- History website (Czech)
- History website, similar dates (Czech)