The History of
Family Business Dates to 1810
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At
one time, the town
of Graslitz, in the Kingdom of Bohemia was the musical instrument
making capital of the world. As early as 1669, 12 masters of
violin making operated in Graslitz. By the time World War II
broke out, there were 300 companies with 3,000 trained instrument
makers.
One of these companies was founded in 1810 by Johann Langhammer
(related to the Meinl family by marriage), a maker of brass instruments
and harmonicas.
Between the 2 world wars, Wenzel Meinl, father of Anton Meinl,
present Senior member of the firm started a wholesale music firm
in Klingenthal, Saxony/Vogtland (across the border in Germany.) |
Born
in Graslitz in 1922, Anton Meinl attended school there from 1928
to 1936, following which, he took a 2 year course at the Technical
State Scho ol for
Musical Instrument Making. After a 3 year apprenticeship, his
studies were interrupted by induction to the military service
in 1941.
With no opportunity to return to his home in Graslitz, and not
knowing what had become of his parents, Mr. Meinl settled in
Austria following his release as a prisoner of war in 1945. He
worked there for 2 years as an instrument maker and repairman,
until he located his father, who had re-established his brass
making business in the town of Geretsried.
Joining his father's enterprise in 1947, Anton Meinl continued
his studies at night courses and passed the examination for his
master's degree in 1952.
A highly skilled craftsman and excellent teacher, Anton Meinl
has contributed much to the development and improvement of tubas.
He was the first to use the hydraulic system to bend tubing for
Tubas and the first to use steel ball action on rotary valve
Tubas. His cutting patterns became famous for its projection
and core. The configuration of slide tubings of the Meinl-Weston
Tubas has contributed significantly to the efficiency and response
of the instruments. |
Dean of Tubists,
the late William Bell made frequent trips to
Geretsried to advise Anton Meinl and assist with the early development
of Meinl-Weston instruments. A close relationship developed with
Mr. Bell and other professional musicians around the world.
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The
Meinl's son Gerhard, who took his law degree and finally the
bar exam in Munich in 1983, joined the firm in 1984 after an
apprenticeship as craftsman making musical instruments.  Gerhard Meinl who is an educated trumpet
player and became famous for establishing new artist relationship
represents the seventh generation of his family to work in the
music industry. Since 1986, Gerhard Meinl has been a board member
of the German Musical Instrument Makers Association, and was
an ITG board member between 1986 and 1993 and still is on the
board of T.U.B.A. Gerhard Meinl is a founding member of Das Deutsche
Tubaforum.
In 1991, along with investors, Gerhard Meinl founded the TA Musik
group  within the public
company TA Triumph-Adler AG to take over Vogtländische Musikinstrumentenfabrik
- B&S in the former East Germany from the state trust employing
200 skilled craftsmen. Meinl is CEO of the group and of all its
subsidiary companies, including A. Courtois Brass Instrument
Manufacturer of Paris in Amboise, founded in 1803; the oboe factory
of SML-Marigaux in Paris and the Clarinet Manufacturer F. Arthur
Uebel in Germany.
As part of its strategy of focusing on the Triumph-Adler Experts@Output
corporate division, TA Triumph-Adler AG has sold TA Musik GmbH
via a Management Buy Out to a group of managers formed by Gerhard
A. Meinl.  At the beginning of
August 2001, the group acquired 100% of shares of TA Musik GmbH
which continues to operate as a management holding company for
this group of musical instrument manufacturers. As part of the
acquisition, TA Musik GmbH will change its name into JA Musik
GmbH. |
Wenzel Meinl
GmbH, Geretsried, where 20 trained craftsmen are employed building
instruments with the brand names Melton (for Europe) and Meinl-Weston.
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