Here's good news for those of you with an old Kohlert clarinet! I haven't been able to find a good serial number chart, but I just came across a post (from the Clarinet BBoard) with this list of bell logos and corresponding eras: Pre- WW 1 (1918): “V. Kohlert’s Söhne Graslitz”. The Bohemian border region belonged to the Austrian Empire. Most inhabitants, also the Graslitz instrument makers like Kohlert, Püchner, Keilwerth, and many others, were German 1918- 38: “V.Kohlert’s Söhne, Graslitz, Czecho-Slovakia”. The region was part of the new Czecho-Slovak Republic. According to New Langwill they were among the largest firms of WWI makers in Bohemia with workforce of 400 in 1929 and a 23- piece orchestra. After Nazi Germany had, by the Munich treaty of 1938, taken over the German- Bohemian border region, it was: “Graslitz, Sudetengau”. After WW 2, till about 1948, when the Germans (“Sudetendeutsche”) were expropriated and expelled by the Czechoslovak state: “V.Kohlerta Synobe Kraslice” . The former Kohlert workshops were then taken over by the state owned Amati company. At Winnenden near Stuttgart, South Germany, they started their business again. The instruments were then stamped “Kohlert & Co. Winnenden” They had to give up, as far as I know, about 1980.
2 Comments
Bruce sodervick
8/21/2019 09:37:17 pm
I have two pre-ww1 V Kohlert sons silver-nichle Bohemia graslitz made clarinets- they play magnificently .
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Remi Leduc
10/16/2019 07:06:43 pm
I have an old clarinet with the bell and upper part inscription « V. Kolhert Sons makers Graslitz, Austria ». I know for sure that it was made between 1896 and 1918 because the seller (Charles Lavalee in Montréal) was in business from 1896 to 1924 and his logo is on the middle part of the clarinet. Considering it is marqued « Austria » it is pre WW1. The serial number is 9304.
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February 2024
AuthorThe Licorice Shtick Blog is the creation of the Vintage Clarinet Doctor, a Winston Salem, NC based woodwind instrument repair shop specializing in vintage and antique clarinets, saxophones, and the occasional flute. Categories |