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Tibor Kovács violin bow
TIBOR KOVÁCS 1980 - Born in Bratislava. Following the traditions of his musician family he learnt to play the violin and ever since he has been passionate about this instrument. He spent most of his childhood in Spain. 1996 - Started his studies at the International Violin Making School in Cremona (I.P.I.A.L.L) and at the same time gained admission to the Bow Making School of Cremona (C.F.P. Regione Lombardia di Cremona)
Péter Iványi cello bow
PÉTER IVÁNYI 1977 - Born in Nyíregyháza. 1981 - Started his musical studies playing the violin. 1983 - Attended the Musical Primary School in Nyíregyháza. He sang in several choirs and played in student orchestras. His teachers included Dénes Szabó, Kossuth and Liszt Prize awarded music educator and choirmaster. 1992-1994 - Trained to be a cantor and a choirmaster. 1995 - Completed his secondary education as a violin student at the Secondary School of Art in Nyíregyháza.
Gábor Fodor viola bow
GÁBOR FODOR 1976 - Born in Budapest. 1996-1999 - Learnt woodwind instrument making in the workshop of Attila Szabó and Zoltán Csernai in the SONUS musical instrument shop. 1999(Sept)-2000 - Learnt bow making in the Etzler workshop in Göd. 2001 - Worked as a bow maker in Tamás Guminár’s violin making workshop. 2002-2007 - Repaired and constructed bows for the Rose musical instrument shop run by Tibor Juhos. He dealt with both modern and baroque bows. 2008 to date - Specialized in precision mechanics and metal works.
Tamás Ferencz cello bow
TAMÁS FERENCZ 1974 - Born in Sfântu Gheorghe, Sepsziszentgyörgy, Romania. 1994 - Accomplished his studies at the Sándor Plugor Art Lyceum, faculty of music. During his studies he already had attempts at musical instrument making, finally set up a kobza making workshop. 2003 - Moved to Hungary after six years of self-employment and studied in Bernd Etzler’s workshop in Göd. 2007 to date - Living with his family in Belgium while working for the Etzler workshop as an external colleague.
András Nagy violin bow
ANDRÁS NAGY 1974 - Born in Miskolc. 1989-1993 - Accomplished his secondary education as a violin student at the Béla Bartók Music Conservatory in Miskolc. 1993-1995 - Completed his studies of stringed and plucked musical instrument making and restoring at the Musical Instrument Making School of the Franz Liszt Music Academy under the supervision of István Harsányi.
Károly Gáspár violin bow
KÁROLY GÁSPÁR 1973 - Born in Budapest. 1992 - Learnt violin making from Károly Tóth and bow making from Sándor Radics in their workshop in Sashalom. 1993 (From second half) - Spent nine months working for Josef Fedra in Hague. 1994 - Gained his diploma while working for Alexander Miholics in Belgium. He spent periods of internship at the bow making workshop of Kent John Rosenstein in Amsterdam. 1995 - Returned to Budapest and was employed as the workshop manager of István Farkas’ workshop in Népszínház utca.
Balázs Gollob baroque bow
GOLLOB BALÁZS 1971 – Born in Budapest. 1989 – Studied plucked and stringed musical instrument making at Gyula Kaesz Vocational School of Woodworking. 1991 – Gained his professional certificate. Masters: Károly Bősz, Pál Sáránszky. 1991-1992 – Student at the Hungarian College of Applied Arts. 1993-1995 - Assistant to violin making master Pál Sáránszky. 1995-1997 - Studied at IPIALL, Cremona. Master: Giorgio Scolari. 1997 - Gained his certificate at IPIALL. 1997 to date – Working in his workshop in Újpest.
Tamás Sziráki cello bow
TAMÁS SZIRÁKI 1966 – Born in Budapest. 1985 – Completed his secondary education at Mihály Táncsics Secondary School. 1987 – Vocational certificate as a home appliance repair technician. 1987-1989 – Military service. 1989-1991 – Cleaner, delivery-man at the National Institute of Oncology. 1991-1995 – Studied at ELTE BTK, majored in Chinese. 1995-1999 – Backoffice support and futures currency trading at Raiffeisen Securities and Investment Ltd. 1999-2000 – Backoffice support in futures hedging at UBM Ltd.
Paul Sadka violin bow
PAUL SADKA 1966 - Born in Buckingham,UK. 1991-1994 – Trained as a professional cellist at the Trinity College of Music, London and completed photography studies at the same time. 1994-1995 – Learnt bow making from Noel Burke in Ireland then continued his studies in Cremona. 1996-1998 – Worked in the South of France. End of 1998 – Came to Budapest and worked in Bence Holló’s workshop in the first year. 2000-2003 – Ran his own workshop in Budapest.
Bernd Etzler cello bow
BERND ETZLER 1964 - Born in Emsbüren, Germany. 1986-1988 - Studied in the violin making workshop of the Franz Liszt Music Academy under the supervision of Ferenc Kőrösi. 1988-1992 - Worked as an assistant at the same place. 1989 - Made his first bows with the guidance of Géza Sáli. 1991-1996 - Spent periods of internship at Stéphane Thomachot’s workshop in Paris. 1993 - Established his own bow making workshop in Göd.
László Lakatos baroque bow
LÁSZLÓ LAKATOS 1962 - Born in Szabadka. 1982 - Started making musical instruments. 1982-1992 - Regularly consulted with Lajos Dudás, musical instrument maker in Szabadka. 1992-1996 - Worked for Accord workshop in Budapest lead by István Bogsütz and László Juharos. Colleagues:Judith Moser and László Nemessányi. Apprentices: Bence Holló, István Molnár, László Hurguly, György Kúti and Gábor Draskóczy. 1997-2003 - Worked independently at Tibor Semmelweis’ workshop in Zugligeti utca. Apprentices: Ivány Adonyi and Zoltán Horváth.
János Martin  Baroque bow
JÁNOS MARTIN 1961 - Born in Budapest. 1983-1987 - Studied at the International Violin Making School in Cremona, IPIALL. Masters: Giorgio Scolari, Claudio Amighetti 1987-1989 - Took a master course of bow making at the evening school of C.F.P. Regione Lombardia di Cremona under the supervision of Giovanni Lucchi and Emilio Slaviero. 1989-2004 - Worked in Cremona where he cooperated with his brother-in-law, Gaspar Borchardt. 2004 to date - Working in Budapest.
Géza Sáli cello bow
GÉZA SÁLI 1960 - Born in Mezőhegyes. 1978-1980 – Learnt violin making under the supervision of Ferenc Lakatos in the workshop of the Franz Liszt Music Academy following twelve years of violin playing and completing his secondary education 1981 – Made his first bows (then Baroque) 1985 – Obtained his master’s certificate. February 1989 – ’Infected’ Etzler Bernd with bow making. 1989 – Graz, violin and bow maker. 1996 – Received his second master’s certificate in Vienna.
Attila Szitha violin bow
ATTILA SZITHA 1955 – Born in Karcag. Started playing the piano at the age of four and the cello at the age of six. Completed his secondary school studies at the Zoltán Kodály Conservatory in Debrecen. During these years he became attracted to the instrument making profession to the extent that he sought professional guidance from masters of the craft. 1979 – Qualified as a Cellist, a Cello Teacher and a Chamber Musician at the Franz Liszt Music College in Budapest, as a student of Miklós Perényi.
László Várady-Szabó double bass bow
LÁSZLÓ VÁRADY-SZABÓ 1975 – Accomplished his secondary education as a double bass student at the Zoltán Kodály Conservatory in Debrecen. 1978 – Qualified as a Double Bass Teacher at the Franz Liszt Music College in Debrecen. 1976 – Double bass player of the MÁV Philharmonic Orchestra in Debrecen, later known as Debrecen Philharmonic Orchestra, today as Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra.
KÁROLY PÉTERI 1955 – Born in Debrecen. 1974 – Finished his secondary education. 1976 – Gained his certificate as a watchmaker, in 1980 as an electrotechnician and in 1982 as an electrical mechanic. Beginning of 1980s – Started making violins alongside his full-time job. 1982-1989 – Improved his professional skills under the guidance of István Balázs.
Lakaotos János hegedűvonó
JÁNOS LAKATOS 1950 – Born in Egerszalók. 1965-1966 – Accomplished his secondary education at the music faculty of Géza Gárdonyi Secondary School in Eger. 1967 – Worked as a musician together with his father in Mezőkövesd. 1968 – Musician in Budapest. 1969-1970 – Studied clarinet folk music in the Musical Studio. 1970-to retirement – Travelling the world as a clarinet player. 1995-1998 – Learnt bow making from József Horváth while also consulting Rudolf Rigó. 1997 – Started bow making in his home in Kispest.
Radics Sándor brácsavonó
SÁNDOR RADICS 1951 – Born in Kartal. 1969 – Accomplished his secondary education as a double bass student at the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest. 1969-1990 – Worked as a musician. 1981-1985 – Studied bow making from József Horváth. 1985 – Started producing bows in Budapest. 1992 – Rented a workshop with Károly Tóth in Sashalom. 1994 – Moved to Vienna. 1996 – Established his workshop in Gols. 2006 to date – Working in Frauenkirchen. Apprentices: Károly Gáspár (1991-92) and Rudolf Rigó (1992-93)
RUDOLF RIGÓ 1949 – Born in Budapest. 1960s – Played the double bass in the Rajkó Orchestra supporting young talents. 1992 – Learnt bow making from Sándor Radics in his workshop in Sashalom. 1992-1993 – Continued his studies with József Horváth. Until his death in 2001 he was a productive bow maker. He developed his own model, signed his high quality bows with his own stamp. He also constructed excellent French bow copies. His early death was a great loss for the Hungarian bow making profession.
LÁSZLÓ TUCSNI 1948 - Born in Szekszárd. 1962-1966 - Violin student at the Music Conservatory in Pécs. Teacher: Mathild Grév. 1967-1970 - Continued violin studies at the Music Academy, faculty in Pécs. Teacher: Henrik Botvay. 1970 - Gained his degree, then worked in Yugoslavia for a year. 1971-2008 - Violinist at the Hilversum Radio Chamber Orchestra in the Netherlands, second concert master in the last years.
Lajos Kónya violin bow
LAJOS KÓNYA 1948 – Born in Tatabánya. Learnt both violin making and photography from his father. 1968~ Took up wood carving, then constructed folk music instruments. Being encouraged by his father he started to work with stringed instruments. 1969 – Opened his studio. 1981 – Gained his vocational certificate as a musical instrument maker. 1983 – Opened his own workshop in Tatabánya. 1987 – Obtained his master’s certificate. 1989-2004 – Constructed altogether some 50-60 bows exclusively for violin.
József Horváth cello bow
JÓZSEF HORVÁTH 1948 – Born in Budapest. 1962-1966 – Violin student of Mrs Szipornapszky at the Béla Bartók Music Conservatory in Budapest. 1966-1993 – Worked as a professional violin player. 1971-1972, 1975-1976, 1978-1979 – Spent a year in József Kun’s workshop in Ottawa where he learnt bow making. 1993 to date – Fully comitted to bow making in his workshop in Mária utca. Apprentices: Sándor Radics (1981-85), Rudolf Rigó (1993-94) and János Lakatos (1995-98) First stamp: JÓZSEF HORVÁTH Since 1993 J. HORVÁTH BUDAPEST
DEZSŐ HORVÁTH (1946-) 1946 – Born in Gönc. 1951 – Started playing the violin. 1957 – Transferred to cymbalo playing. 1978 – Visited Ottawa with the orchestra of József Horváth. January 1979 – Visited József Kun and became his apprentice. 1980 to date – Constructing bows in his flat in Havanna út, Budapest, Hungary.
ISTVÁN KÓNYA JR. / STEFANO CONIA 1946 – Born in Felsőgalla. 1968 – Travelled to Italy with his first violin made under his father’s supervision and started his studies at the International Violin Making School in Cremona. Masters: Gio Batta Morassi and Pietro Sgarabotto. After completing his studies he worked in Master Morassi’s workshop for two years. 1972 – Gained his diploma and set up his workshop on Corso Garibaldi where he has been working since then.
ISTVÁN SCHNEIDER 1943 – Born in Várpalota. 1960 – Started working for HANGSZÖV in Budapest as a trained worker. Also studied brass instrument making from János Gruber then. 1965 – Gained his professional certificate as brass instrument maker. 1969 – Worked for HANGSZÖV in József körút (from 1970 known as KOZMOSZ) 1972 – Gained his master’s certificate of violin making in the workshop of Pál Sáránszky. 1974 – Opened his own workshop where he only focused on stringed and plucked musical instruments. He also constructed bows.
A Molnár Gyűtemény magyar vonói
GÉZA MOLNÁR Géza Molnár was born in a well-off family, which lost its wealth during the deprivatization period. He was the violist of the State Operetta Theatre and at the same time established the most significant private collection of musical instruments and bows of the Kádár era. He was a jolly, kind and generous man. All members of the former workshop of the Music Academy regularly worked for him. After a tour abroad he often invited us to his home to treat us with foreign delicacies. Unfortunately he died far too early.
PÉTER DARÓCZI 1934 – Born in Szeged. 1953 – Started working for the Musical Instrument Factory in Szeged, learnt violinmaking under the supervision of Lajos and Miklós Sebők. 1957 – Obtained his vocational qualification. 1982 – Started running his own workshop on Hunyadi János sugárút while still working full time for the musical factory. As a craftsman he fully equipped his workshop with machines made by himself. He planes his bows octagonal, he buys ready-made frogs and doesn’t use a stamp.
LAJOS DUDÁS Szabadka
Josef Kun violin bow
KUN JÓZSEF - JOSEPH KUN 1930-1996 1930 – Born in Kassa. 1948-1953 - Learnt violin and bow making from Vladimir Prybil. 1956 – Gained his musical degree as a violinist. 1953-1968 – Part-time violin and bow maker while also working as a violin teacher of the Czech State Conservatory. 1968 – Emigrated to Canada and settled down in Ottawa where he opened his own workshop. He was a successful bow maker and author of the book ’The Art of Bowmaking’. However, he was best known for developing his own violin and viola shoulder rest. Stamps
Pál Sáránszky violin bow
PÁL SÁRÁNSZKY 1919-2000 He learnt in the Cigl workshop, then became László Reményi’s assistant until 1940 when he joined the army. After spending time as prisoner of war he returned to this workshop in 1946 and worked here until the workshop was deprivatised in 1950. In 1957 he became independent in Pál Pilát’s workshop. He made numerous double bass bows after the war and more bows in the 1990s. Most bows stamped by him were the products of the German Dörfler company.
István Kónya sr. violin bow
ISTVÁN KÓNYA, Sr. 1919-1999 He studied photography from 1943. He got his master craftsman certificate of photography and opened his studio. From the age of thirteen he made attempts to make violins but he was 44 in 1964 when he decided to go to Cremona and learn the profession. He spent four years there. In 1968 he returned to Tatabánya with a diploma of merit. Later he moved to Tata where he devoted his whole life to instrument making. He won silver/second prize with his cello at the first Triennale in Cremona in 1976.
László Császár violin bow
LÁSZLÓ CSÁSZÁR 1910-? He learnt from János Racsinszky until 1929 then worked for Lajos Bohák, Sr until 1938. He also made bows.
LÁSZLÓ BÓZA 1909-? He learnt the profession at the Mogyoróssy company where he worked until 1931. He also made bows.
ELEK BÉLA 1908-? He learnt from his father between 1922 and 1926. He ran his own workshop from 1926. There are bows stamped Elek and there were bowmaking tools in the family inheritance.
Mihály Bodák violin bow
MIHÁLY BODÁK He worked in the 1930s in Detroit.
JÁNOS BRUNÓ BRAUN 1905-68 He learnt from his father then he worked for a year for Anton Ostler from 1926 in Mittenwald. From 1927 he worked in Temesvár.
ERNŐ STEIGERWALD 1904-? He learnt from Márton Hein in Székesfehérvár between 1918 and 1921, then worked for Róbert Laumann and from 1924 in Dezső Bárány’s ’English workshop’. He also visited the workshops of István Havas, József Schneider and Sternberg. He became independent in 1932. He also made bows.
JÓZSEF ROMAN (KLIER) 1904-50 He learnt from his father and Georg Winterling. Around 1920 he worked for Walter Geipel then for Róbert Laumann in Budapest. He worked for Wurlitzer in New York from 1927. He may have made bows too.
SÁNDOR ELEK, JR. 1901-83 He learnt from his father between 1920 and 1924 then established his own workshop in 1927.
ZOLTÁN REMÉNYI 1900-1974 Between 1916 and 1919 he learnt violin making from his father. In 1958 he settled down in Toronto where he founded the Reményi House of Music Ltd.
LÁSZLÓ REMÉNYI 1895-1964 First he learnt from his father then from Winterling in Hamburg and Caressa&Francais in Paris. He returned to his father’s workshop in 1919. Plenty of excellent violin makers worked for the Reményi workshop.
EMIL TELMÁNYI 1892-1988 He constructed a special arch shaped bow. The prototype is kept by the Intitute of Musicology.
LAJOS KOVÁCS 1891-1970 After becaming independent in 1920 he worked for András Bergmann and K. Ottó Zimmerand. Between 1922 and 1928 he worked for Sternberg. From August 1928 he worked on his own. He also made bows.
DEZSŐ EMBER 1888-1949 He made violins and bows in Zombor.
Klier Antal hegedűvonó
ANTAL KLIER (son of András Klier living in Bratislava) He was a bow maker in Szeged between 1908 and 1930.
ANDRÁS BERGMANN, Jr. 1887-? His father’s apprentice. They worked together from 1919.
ANDRÁS PALATINUS 1887-1941 He learnt from Antal Habits in Budapest then from János Lenhardt in Pécs. He was known as a versatile maker in Szolnok. He also made bows.
Miksa Frirsz violin bow
Miksa Frirsz 1884-1952 He learnt violin making at the beginning of the 20th century from Pál Pilát in Budapest, then he worked in Würzburg for the Niet Company. Later he opened his own workshop in 1908 in Budapest, where his assistants were József Mirth and Ferenc Mündl. In 1938 his son Miksa Frirsz, Jr also gained his professional certificate. He was a productive master, besides numerous violins he also made a couple of violas and cellos.
PÉTER PÁL BEKE 1883-1945 He made his first instruments while working as a shepherd. He became independent from Róbert Laumann in 1910. He learnt bow making from Louis Otto in Düsseldorf and later he worked for Josef Held in Cologne. Also worked in Schönbach and Paris.
SÁNDOR ELEK, SR. 1881-1969 He learnt violin making from Lajos Bohák from 1895. In 1906 he opened his own workshop in Miskolc. There are bows stamped Elek and the Elek family inheritance included bow making tools.
ANTAL BRAUN II 1877-1927 He learnt instrument making from his brother János Braun in Szeged. From about 1900 he worked in Temesvár. There are bows stamped Braun, but without seeing one in person it is difficult to say which member of the Braun family it is stamped by.
István Havas violabow
ISTVÁN HAVAS 1872-1956 He learnt violin making from Nándor Brückner. In 1905 he became independent. At the beginning of his career he also made bows.
JÁNOS STOWASSER, JR.?-1937 He took over his father’s musical instrument factory in 1924 and managed it successfully until his death in 1937. There are numerous bows stamped Stowasser.
MIHÁLY BRAUN 1870-1942 In 1891 he worked in Szeged later in Kolozsvár. There are bows stamped Braun, but without seeing one in person it is difficult to say which member of the Braun family it is stamped by.
Mihály Reményi cellobow
MIHÁLY REMÉNYI 1867-1939 He was an apprentice of György Tánczer. From 1887 he worked for Pál Pilát and for Sándor Ferenczy from 1889. In 1890 he opened his own workshop. There are bows stamped Reményi, but without seeing one in person it is difficult to say which member of the Reményi family it is stamped by.
Károly Ferenczy-Tomasowszky violin bow
KÁROLY FERENCZY-TOMASOWSZKY 1863 -? He was an apprentice of Zach and W.J. Schunda in Pest. Later he worked in Berlin, Rotterdam, Hague and New York. We know of bows in Budapest and Vienna stamped by him.
András Bergmann violinbow
ANDRÁS BERGMANN 1862-1932 He was an apprentice of Eduard Bartek, later assistant to Pál Pilát. In 1898 he opened his own workshop in Budapest. He stamped his bows BERGMANN A.BUDAPEST.
CARL WILHELM DAUM 1860-? He learnt from his stepfather Franz Hiller, who was a violin and bowmaker in Wienerneustadt. In 1888 he moved to Pozsony and in 1891 he returned to his hometown. From 1902 to 1906 he worked in Barmen, Germany.
Pál Pilát violinbowstick
PÁL PILÁT 1860-1931 He learnt violin making from Thomas Zach in Vienna, he worked for Gabriel Lemböck and David Bittner here. After he moved to Budapest he first worked for J.W.Schunda later for Eduard Bartek. In 1883 he took over the workshop of Ede Bartek.
JOHANN BRAUN 1860-1906 He learnt violin making from Ignac Lutz in Vienna. From 1883 he worked in Szeged as a violin maker and an optician. There are bows stamped Braun, but without seeing one in person it is difficult to say which member of the Braun family it is stamped by.
Lajos Köhler violinbow
LAJOS KÖHLER, 1859-1935 He was born in Abaújszántó. He learnt violin making from Pál Pilát in Budapest. In 1887 he opened his own workshop. In 1891 he worked in Berlin, later in Chicago. After the earthquake of 1896 he returned to Budapest. He stamped his bows KÖHLER L.BUDAPEST.
BÉLA SZEPESSY 1856-1925 He was born in Pest and learnt violin making from Sámuel Nemessányi between 1868 and 1874. He worked with C.H.Voigt, who learnt bow making in Markneukirchen. Between 1875 and 1879 he worked for the Zach workshop in Vienna, then from 1879 to 1881 in Munich. He opened a workshop in London in 1882. He stamped his bows SZEPESSY BÉLA.
CARL HERMANN VOIGT 1850-1925 He was born in Markneukirchen where he learnt bow making. In 1867 he worked for Ludwig Bausch in Dresden. He moved to Pest in 1868. Later he worked for Adolf Mönning and Alajos Engleder. He left to Vienna in 1871 to work for Gabriel Lemböck. In 1876 he took over C.F.Schmidt’s workshop and worked here until retirement in 1910. Stamps: C.H.VOIGT,VOIGT WIEN and H. VOIGT in WIEN
GUSTÁV WINDISCH 1849-? He worked in his hometown Gyömrő and also made bows.
ANTAL BRAUN I. 1847-1901 He learnt violin making in his hometown, Kuttenberg from II. Ferdinand Josef Homolka, then worked for Placht in Vienna. He moved to Budapest in 1876 and worked here until 1887, then he left to Szeged and later to Belgrade. There are bows stamped Braun, but without seeing one in person it is difficult to say which member of the Braun family it is stamped by.
JOHANN STOWASSER, SR. 1846-? He came to Hungary in 1867 and established the Hungarian Stowasser musical instrument making company. There are numerous Stowasser stamped bows.
János Riedl violin bow
JÁNOS RIEDL 1833-1918 He was born in Schönwert and learnt musical instrument making in Graslitz, later worked in Vienna and Pozsony, Pressburg. Finally he settled down in 1861 in Sopron where his descendants still live. Apart from his main field in brass wind instruments he was also involved in stringed instruments making.
JAKAB KABINGER ?-1876 He learnt violin making in Vienna. In 1838 he already lived in Pest. First he worked for Ferenc Tischenant and then for Péter Teufelsdorfer. In 1846 he inherited Teufelsdorfer’s workshop. In 1857 he emigrated to Kiev where he died in 1876. In the old literature he was regarded as the best Hungarian bow maker ever.
JOHANN DIEHL He was born into a German violin and bow making family. Around 1808 he worked in Hungary then in Mainz until 1843. He may have made bows as well.
PÉTER TEUFELSDORFER 1784-1845 He learnt violin making from Franz Gaissenhof in Vienna. He worked in Pest from 1808 until his death in 1845. He was one of the most prominent violin makers of his age and was known as an excellent bow maker at the same time.
ANDREAS CARL LEEB He worked as a violin maker in 1784 in Vienna, then in Pozsony (the capital of Hungary at that time) from 1789 and again in Vienna between 1801 and 1813. He also made bows.

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