Info on Franz Heberlein Violins

Subject: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST,Clint Keller
Date: 03 Sep 03 - 01:54 AM

My granddaughter has been given a violin; the label inside says "Franz Heberlein" and "made in Germany," and she'd like to find out something about Franz H.

We're fiddle illiterate here and never heard of him before this. I only found two references on Google, both people who had a Heberlein violin for sale. Can anyone help?

clint

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 12:16 AM

very rare

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST,carmen
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 12:17 AM

excellent violin

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 03:51 AM

The couple of Franz Heberlein violins offered for sale are in the $350 - $450 price range, and are represented as "good student violins."

A possible "family tradition of luthiery might be indicated by the appearance, as an example, at the Wichita Band Instrument Shop of:

R-24VN. Saxon violin from the workshop of Heberlein and Haeusler, bearing the label "Heinrich E. Heberlein, Jr. / Markneukirchen 1923 / copie Antonius Stradivarius / made in Germany". The one-piece back is of narrow figure, the top of spruce of narrow grain. The spirit-based varnish is a dark red color. Length of back is 357 mm. The instrument has come to us in good original condition, some wear to the varnish, but no cracks or damage. $1975.

I'd suspect the Heinrich would be called an "advanced student" violin, although this shop is not known for bargain pricing. You might want to add "Haeusler" as a search item to see if you can dig up some business history on Heberlein family members.

There seem to be more Heinrich Heberlein violins offered for sale than for Franz. Dates given are vague, but Heinrich (1893 to 1920s?) appears to have been some years (perhaps a couple of decades?) later than Franz, so there might be a father-son relationship(?).

Dictionary of Violin and Bow Makers lists:

"Heberlein, Heinrich jun. Clever maker in Markneukirchen, nineteenth century"

but does not show any others of that family. Franz, August Franz, Julian, and Heinrich all appear as "family names" for "Heberlein" family makers. (There may possibly have been more than one Heinrich, as some places seem to distinguish between Heinrich Th(eodore) and Heinrich Jr..)

Cello Playing in 19th Century Germany reports:

"A second pupil of Hegar's is HERMANN HEBERLEIN, who also had the advantage of Carl Schroeder's and. Bernhard Cossmann's instruction. Born on March 29, 1859, at Marckneukirchen, in the kingdom of Saxony, Heberlein went, from 1878-1877, to the Leipsic Conservatoire. In the last years of that period he gave concerts in South Germany, and finally was appointed to be solo cellist at the town theatre of Konigsberg. In 1883 he undertook the office of teacher of his instrument at the music school there. He wrote "Elementary Studies" for the Violoncello, "Practical Cello Studies" (2 books, Op. 5), Variations for the Violoncello, with piano accompaniment (Op. 2), Two Cello Pieces (Op. 8), four Pieces de Salon (Op. 6), and also published a Violoncello school."

Note that most of the H. Heberlein violins advertised are dated in the 1920s, so this cellist was much earlier, and could have been a grandfather of the luthier Heinrich (or of his brother?/father? Franz?)

Internet Cello Society lists at 2003-09-08 23:26:00: 1869 Heberlein Cello - United States, 1869 Heberlein of Markneukirchen. No first name or other identification given, but it does remind that when looking for old luthiers having one of a maker's fiddles doesn't mean that fiddles are what that luthier is best known for.

It would be interesting to know if the Gerhart Karl Friedrich Heberlein referred to in the Double-Reed Journal as an owner of Adler & Co, the bassoon manufacturer in East Germany, from 1937 to 1945 was a relative of the fiddle maker(s). This source does give some history of music manufacture in the Markneukirchen area, from the 1600s on (see around page 12 and after), although it deals mostly with wind instruments.

Although it gives only a passing reference to Heberlein, this article actually has quite a lot of history of music instrument manufacture in the region, and would merit a look from anyone curious about how the guild system (esp. at the turn or the last century) actually worked.

Unfortunately there have been far too many violin makers for any but the most prominent to be easily identified. Searching for old luthiers is a lot like searching one's own genealogy. You find lots of "possibles" but they're mostly someone else's ancestors.

John

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST,alexander
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 12:01 AM

very nice student violin excellent tone. love them. hard to find

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST,aaron
Date: 24 Jun 08 - 12:10 AM

Iwould like to have one

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST,heinrich
Date: 06 Sep 08 - 04:56 PM

a good quality violin made in germany selling for about $350-$500 I had one and sold it for $470 I wished I had kept it, cannot find

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST,Markflorida
Date: 17 Sep 08 - 09:14 AM

If your looking for a Franz Heberlein go on Ebay, and search by seller I'm putting one up today. Its starting at $0.99 and their is no reserve on it my. Ebay name is Markflorida, Thanks in advance

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST,Soyeon Kang from South Korea
Date: 22 Jun 10 - 10:48 AM

Cool. I've just found this. And my violin my father left me has the label "Franz Herberlein" made in Germany, too. Its sound is so good. I love it. My father bought that long time ago...and now I am so happy to figure it out.

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST,K-town, Germany
Date: 16 Oct 10 - 08:36 PM

I actually found one today on ebday I will be purchasing w/out a bow but in excellent condition. I can not wait to play it!

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Nov 10 - 02:02 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130451572430&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

I have one listed now! BID TO WIN

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 03:17 PM

I have a Franz Heberlein violin 4x4(full size). It was given to me by my grandfather whose father gave to him. My greatgrandfather knew the heberleins and gave him this beautiful violin.
Please contact me if anyone is interested
my email is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 12:18 PM

I have a Franz Heberlein Violin to possibly sell, but would like to get it appraised. What information do I need to get it appraised? And where do I go for the appraisal?


Michelle

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 28 Feb 14 - 02:19 PM

I wouid like to know the approximate TODAY/S VALUE of a Franz Heberlein Violin...made in Germany,
and the dates they were made.

Thanks a lot!

Sarah

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST,Aaron
Date: 06 Apr 14 - 09:36 AM

I have one also. I have received mine as a gift and probably won't be selling it. It was a family heirloom, so it has more value to me. It needs minor repair, but for the most part it is in great condition and the sound is superb to me. I feel happy for anyone who has one and would advise anyone to keep theirs unless they absolutely had to sell it. These are hard to come by.

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Dec 14 - 07:44 PM

I have a franz heberlein violin for sale. 4/4 full size.
One string needs replaced and it does not have a bow. Please contact [e-mail] if you are interested.

Subject: RE: Info on Franz Heberlein Violins
From: GUEST,GUEST, Jennifer
Date: 07 Apr 15 - 09:17 PM

I have a fellow session buddy who has a 7/8 size Franz Heberlein Made in Germany 1967. Her family got it for her when she was a child. They only paid $125 for the outfit, new. Must be another generation, or perhaps a knockoff of the Heberlein name? Anyone else have one this age?