Info wanted: Amati Kraslice

[The Big Ben]

Amati-Denak is the umbrella organization for Cerveny, Amati Kraslice and a number of other brands.

Between the two wars, there were approximately 59 different Czech builders of musical instruments. Many of those factories were destroyed during the second war and, due to the process of nationalization of industries in a Communist state, the makers which were left were combined into one organization. There are two factories, one in Kraslice where Amati instruments as well as other brands in the line and a second factory in Hradec Králové where Cerveny instruments are made.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amati-Denak" target="_blank"
http://www.amati.cz/en/company/philosophy" target="_blank"

[toobagrowl]

Current Amati-branded tubas are marketed more as the student line, while Cerveny-branded tubas are marketed more as the intermediate and professional line.
Some of the old/vintage full-size (4/4) Amati tubas can be pretty nice. But most of the current Amati-branded tubas are the smaller models with fewer valves

[imperialbari]

Destroyed through the war? Quite a reduction of 20th century story.

There are very clear reasons why Bavaria has large brass making companies like Miraphone and Meinl-Weston.

These reasons have repeadtedly been presented here on TubeNet, as have the modular design principles used by Amati/Cerveny and formerly also by B&S/Weltklang and by Miraphone.

Klaus

[AndyCat]

All now owned by Geneva Brasswind

[imperialbari]

Interesting, Andy!

Are all Geneva models made in Czechia? Or are some made in China?

Klaus

[AndyCat]

I don't know anymore, the tenuous links I had via Brighouse are now ceased, as are Brighouse's links with Geneva (or will be).

I now get a Band Neo as well as my own

[bigtubby]

Same machines, tools, builders..etc as Cerveny..just less Nickel Silver and no bell kranz. 2 main ferrules are, and some by the valves..that's about it.

FWIW all of the Amati branded rotary instruments are and have been built by the Cerveny plant in Hradec Králové.

Usually but not always they are the 4xx model of a given line: an Amati branded x81 for instance would usually be the 481 model and so on. Mainly the difference between a 4xx and a 6xx model is brass slide legs vs. NS slide legs. A Cerveny 681 and an Amati Kraslice 481). The differences in bell, paddles, lead pipe and keel have to do with the difference in age (ca 1970s Amati vs early 2000s Cerveny. The Cerveny also has hydraulically formed bows also due to its more recent manufacture.

[bigtubby]

I would just like to find a source (that speaks English or types English) that can sell me parts for old Amati and Cerveny horns since even Mr.Oberloh has trouble and has to hand make stuff. Maybe it's a pipe dream..

Amati USA has been very helpful. They closed their US warehouse a few years ago but can still source parts from CZ for you.

This is of course assuming that what you need is still in production or NOS is available. If Dan O. wasn't finding, I am guessing that it was something no longer in production.
http://www.amatiusa.com/

[pjv]

The 36cm(14inch) bell on my Amati Arion has a bell garland.

[Rick Denney]

Tuba factories are small. The only building I can find in a Google search of Hradec Kralove is a small office building with a 2'x3' sign on the adjacent fence--a fence that holds half a dozen such signs, plus the signs on the building itself--that says "Amati-Denak SRO" and under that "V.F. Cerveny". I would guess that facility is easily as small as Rudolf Meinl, Hirsbrunner, and other shops that seem to be out back of the owner's house.

The Amati-Denak building in Kraslice, which is very close to Markneukirchen where B&S instruments are made, is much bigger. The B&S factory in Markneukirchen, the Wenzel-Meinl factory in Geretsried, and the Miraphone factory in Waldkraiburg seem smaller, but still much bigger than Cerveny in Hradec Kralove. Willson in Flums, Switzerland (quite close to Lichtenstein) sits in the middle.

I suspect all the parts are made in Kraslice, and the facility in Hradec-Kralove is just for assembly, testing, and finishing.

Rick "googling around" Denney

[The Big Ben]

I would guess that facility is easily as small as Rudolf Meinl, Hirsbrunner, and other shops that seem to be out back of the owner's house.
Rick "googling around" Denney

Interesting. A friend told me a story that happened when he was in WWII, the Alexanders lived in the basement of the store/manufacturing site. Knowing that, I never expected Amati/Cerveny to be big, but I thought it would be bigger than a 2 car garage! Now I wonder what does go on in that building. Is it large enough to finish all of the horns they produce?

There have been some pictures posted showing the inside of the Jinbao factory and the place looks quite large. Maybe the production of all of the rest of the Jinbao brass instruments is done in the same place.

[loran]

Are all Geneva models made in Czechia? Or are some made in China?

All Amati models are made in Czechia. We travelled Czech in June and had a chance to visit factory. Turned back home and bougth 2 Creveny tubas with good discount from their German dealer Bb Tuba with 5 rotary valves Cerveny CBB 682-5R-O Jubilant and Bb Tuba with 5 rotary valves Cerveny CBB 686-5R-O Simphonia III