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This document contains information about a history of brass and woodwind musical instrument production in the Czech Republic. It is divided into two parts. The first part informs you about the city of Kraslice(trademark Amati) and by scrolling down the document you find the second part about the city of Hradec Kralove (trademark V.F.Cerveny). If you would like to know more about some topic, please click on details, that are integrated in the text or ask us.

AMATI - Denak's musical instruments are manufactured in cities of Kraslice and Hradec Kralove. Musical instrument making had become a tradition in both cities hundreds of years ago. Each city underwent a completely different historical evolution »details«. Kraslice can be considered a real cradle of musical instrument production in our country, because stringed instruments were produced here first at the beginning of the 17th century.

Melchior Lorenz was the first legally confirmed musical instrument maker »details«. In the 18th century, instrument makers of Kraslice adapted to the boom of orchestral music and aside from violin making, they had engaged in the production of wind instruments »details«.

Technical improvements of wind instruments at the beginning of the 19th century (in which the Kraslice musical makers participated) made it easier to play and enabled better virtuosity of the players. That, in turn, had been reflected in an increased interest in playing of these instruments »details«.

Instrument makers wanted to meet and satisfy most players' demands, thus making Austrian and French system instruments in Kraslice and from the beginning of the 19th century, musical toys as well. The first factory had been established in Kraslice as soon as in 1840 and shortly afterwards followed other ones »details«.By the end of the 19th century there were already 11 factories in operation, which employed some 300 workers. About 500 additional people were involved in domestic production. In the city, there were 16 merchants trading musical instruments.

After the WWI, production quickly recovered »details«. Between the two World Wars, there were 59 musical instrument manufacturers. Among the biggest of these firms were: Bohland&Fuchs, Hüller&Co., A.K.Hüttl, Julius Keilwerth, Karl Püchner, Adolf Rölz, Ant.Kohlert etc. »details«. However, during WWII, many plants ceased to exist, while others served military purposes.

In September 1945, a Cooperative of musical instrument manufacturers was established in Kraslice. And because the production of both wind and stringed instruments was anticipated, the Cooperative was given the name "AMATI".

In 1948 the entire production had been nationalized. Kraslice gradually became a center of wind and percussion instrument manufacture »details«. At present, the assortment of wind instruments produced in Kraslice is unusually wide and made up of practically all common instruments »details«.In Kraslice, cases are also produced for instruments, cymbals, some types of percussions and the whole range of children's musical instruments(Orff instruments).

All instruments are manufactured from quality materials, with high level of hand craftsmanship combined with modern technology. AMATI Kraslice instruments are sought after for their excellent award-winning features, such as:beautiful, mellow sound quality, good intonation, functional reliability, perfect workmanship and very reasonable prices.

Hradec Kralove           V.F.Cerveny

The Cerveny wind instrument factory was founded in 1842 in Hradec Kralove, industrial city located 100 kilometers east of Prague. Its founder, Vaclav Frantisek Cerveny (1819 -1896) was an ingenious Czech wind instrument designer, in a field comparable with Adolph Sax (the designer of saxophone). Cerveny completed his first invention only two years after the factory was established, at the age of 25 »details«. In 1845 Cerveny constructed Bb and Cb contrabass_tubas - large bore tubas, which have been copied since. Vaclav Frantisek Cerveny made many other inventions afterwards »details«.

From the very beginning, Cerveny focused on the world market. Already in 1853 he exhibited his instruments in New York, where in the same year his younger brother Frantisek opened a branch office »details«. Cerveny took part in many world industrial exhibitions with a great success »details«. Cerveny instruments have consistently received highest honors »details«.

After 1948 the Cerveny factory merged into a state enterprise AMATI Kraslice, one of the world's largest brass and woodwind manufacturers. Nevertheless, instruments continued to be produced in original places. In 1973 production was moved to a nearby new facility in Hradec Kralove. Production program is still concentrated on the wide bore rotary valve instruments, the very best of the V.F.Cerveny heritage. Present instruments are the result of an integration of long term experience, the world's finest craftsmen, and modern technology.

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