Help identifying brand Made in German Democratic Republic

[rachelt]

Try to identify this badge on an accordion ( see attached picture) also says Made in German Democratic Republic
Does anyone have any idea/knowledge of this logo, thanks

 

[maugein96]

Try to identify this badge on an accordion ( see attached picture) also says Made in German Democratic Republic
Does anyone have any idea/knowledge of this logo, thanks

Hi Rachel,

Welcome to the forum.

The logo is Weltmeister, and your accordion would have been made before 1989, when the GDR or DDR ceased to exist. 

Sorry I dont know very much about Weltmeister accordions at all. Some members are bound to have better knowledge than I have. 

I also dont know what period the logo would have come from, although Ive seen them currently for sale, with the adhesive backing still on them. 

http://www.accordionshop24.com/weltmeister-emblem-silver.html

 

[JIM D.]

This Badge can be found on Accordions made in the former GDR 1949 to 1990
Made by Weltmeister and appeared on their Models of "Weltmeister" , "World Master" & "Royal Standard".

 

[maugein96]

This Badge can be found on Accordions made in the former GDR  1949 to 1990  
Made by Weltmeister and appeared on their Models of "Weltmeister" , "World Master" & "Royal Standard".

Thanks Jim,

I forgot it took almost a full year from demolition of the Berlin Wall until unification of what were the "two Germanies".

The official date was 3rd October 1990, so your time period will be spot on. I should have looked it up.

Don't think I've ever seen any of the Weltmeister models available in the UK close up, so the names of the models are well outside my experience.

 

[Valski]

On a European trip 5 or years ago I decided that since we would be driving within 30 km of the Harmona factory in Klingenthal Germany it might be fun to visit and perhaps even tour the facility. I had spotted a YouTube video and learned that Harmona was the manufacturer of Weltmeister accordions. It seemed like a great idea and I found the adress as well as photos of the imposing home of this famous accordion maker.

Klingenthal is situated right on the border of Germany and the Czech Republic, it's famous for being the home of various musical instrument makers and is also a famous ski-jumping venue. The idea seemed promising as we intended to be in the local vicinity in any case.

After navigating some very narrow roads we managed to locate this picturesque small town. We spotted the large building which was identified on the Weltmiester web site as their home and the factory. When we drove up to the site it became obvious that this was no longer active, in fact it looked like it had been that way for at least a decade. We visited a few places in the town and asked about Harmona/Weltmeister only to be greeted by shrugs. Finally we found a helpful police officer who made a couple of calls and instructed me to follow him to a different part of town where he disappeared into another building which was smaller but had promising woodworking machinery visible in the window. We waited hopefully for him only to be told that this was the last know home of Weltmeister and now they were "kaput ".

So our hopeful excursion ended abruptly and I never got the opportunity to visit an accordion factory. I still wonder where in the world their new facility is. Since Weltmeister is and was a major brand with many accordion models it was a shock that they would be inactive except on their web page where you could still order their instruments made with superior German craftsmanship.

 

[Dingo40]

"I still wonder where in the world their new facility is. Since Weltmeister is and was a major brand with many accordion models..."

Try China??

"...except on their web page where you could still order their instruments made with superior German craftsmanship."

What the eye can't see, the heart doesn't grieve over: read superior Italian, now Chinese ,
craftsmanship???

There's probably been very little German craftsmanship for several decades!?

 

[dunlustin]

' In 1992, VEB Klingenthaler Harmonikawerke was transformed into Harmona Akkordeon GmbH, where we continue to produce – exclusively in Klingenthal – the Weltmeister accordions so popular around the world. Beginning 1 October 2017, Harmona Akkordeon GmbH is operating under a new name: Weltmeister Akkordeon Manufaktur GmbH.'

'Far more than 90 per cent of all parts, whether made from wood, metal, plastic, celluloid, fabric, board or paper, are manufactured here at Harmona in Klingenthal.'

Weltmeister Akkordeon Manufaktur GmbH
Markneukirchner Str. 44 - 46
08248 Klingenthal

( https://akkordeonmanufaktur.de/english/historie/ )

PS They were very helpful when I bought mine.

 

[Dingo40]

Dunlustin,
Thanks??

 

[TomBR]

So what's the explanation of Valski's (non) visit to the Weltmeister factory? The company website is very insistent about Made in Germany and the Klingenthal address. (No street view there.)

 

[Valski]

So what's the explanation of Valski's (non) visit to the Weltmeister factory? The company website is very insistent about Made in Germany and the Klingenthal address. (No street view there.)

At that time it appears that they were not operational. This would have been 2015 or 2016 and at that time they were no where to be found. The note says starting October 1 2017 they were re-formed as a new entity. I'm merely recounting my experience in that attempted visit. The accordion manufacturing business is most likely not the most lucrative so it's quite possible that they were not active at that time.

My entire point was that sometimes companies will not be quite forthcoming with their business operations. I thought that they were one of the strongest in the industry and was disappointed that they were no where to be found other than on a website which portrayed their "former glory".

I still think that accordions are the best musical instrument despite that experience.

 

[JeffJetton]

FWIW, a German article from 2017 about the "resurrection" of the company:

Nachrichten aus dem Vogtland - blick.de

Aktuelle Nachrichten und Blaulichtmeldungen aus dem Vogtland: Lest hier News zu lokalen Ereignissen, Wirtschaft, Kultur und Veranstaltungen in der Region.

www.blick.de

Google Translate version: https://translate.google.com/transl.../aus-harmona-wird-weltmeister-artikel10021472

This is probably also why their product line narrowed considerably a couple years ago. (My natural-wood Monte 34 is now a collector's item!)

 

[TomBR]

Thanks Valski and Jeff. I certainly wasn't doubting you Valski, I was just wondering how Weltmeister's online presence squared with your "on the ground" experience. From the article Jeff linked it seems you were there at a low point.

Good luck to the company.

I've talked to a few people with newish Weltmeisters and they're very happy with them

 

[Tom]

Yup, and Petosas are made in America. Maybe made in Croatia from Italian and Chinese components? Only Mr. Weltmeister knows. But maybe it doesn't matter because they are good, cost effective machines. My guess is that Jim D or one of the other pros here could tell you what city and month of the year it was made with a 2 minute look inside but I, as usual remain clueless, just because I post a lot doesn't mean I know anything. Buyer beware and be happy!

 

[Valski]

I once bought an Accordiana model because I liked the tremelo tuning and the decoration. It was supposed to be "made by Excelsior" in Italy as a more affordable unit but after owning it for some time opened the grill to discover that it was 100% made in China. I bought it from a reputable dealer who seemed to be the most honest man in the world and it turns out that I was mistaken.

My point is NOT that it matters where it's manufactured as much as how it's marketed to the public. These companies sometimes are somewhat loose with the facts and it's very possible to be the proud owner of expensive goods which are in fact second rate or worse. I wasn't singling out Weltmeister, merely relating my experience.