V Kohlert's Sons Graslitz, Czech, Straight Soprano

[Ian]

I have just been offered this horn at a very low price. I cannot find a serial number anywhere. Finish is Matt Silver, apart from some polished silver plate inside the engraved logo on the bell. Looks a very solidly built horn, around 30 years old. Anybody have any further info, or perhaps owned or played one of these.
Thanks.

[Ian]

One further point: has soldered tone holes. I'm wondering whether this makes it a student horn?

[David Spiegelthal]

Ian,
For one thing, it's much more than 30 yearsl old, since V. Kohlert and Sons basically escaped from Czechoslovakia in 1948 (I think it was) and settled in Germany where they continued making instruments until closing up shop around 1974 (I also recall reading that their abandoned factory in Kraslice/Graslitz was appropriated by the Czech government and nationalized to become part of the present Amati concern). I have several Kohlert instruments from their later Winnenden, Germany phase which started in the 1950's. So I'd say your soprano is probably pre-WWII.