Konrad Wolki Signature Model

[Bob A]

Acquired a Konrad Wolki bowlback - or at least one with his signature (possibly in holograph, perhaps printed) within.

Label reads "Deutsches Zupfinstrument
gebaut nach angaben von Konrad Wolki
nr 6 /III gebaut im jahre1938
Hans K(R?)ago??y Berlin N65
(I can't be sure of the blackletter gothic type, at all).

Big fluted 26-rib rosewood bowl, slotted peghead, zero fret, wide neck, smallish soundhole, 24 frets, Embergher-style scroll pickgueard and bridge, built-in armrest.

Anyone familiar with these?

[trebleclef528]

Hi Bob,
As far as I can make out it says..
"German Pluck String Instrument - built (made) folowing suggestions (ideas) from Konrad Wolki"

Sounds like a builder getting some design advice from "Herr Wolki". But Wolki was definately not in the mandolin building business himself.

I have not heard of this type of mandolin, nor the maker but I will try to find out for you.
Hope this helps a bit.
Regards,
Ian

[Martin Jonas]

Bob -- if you post a photo of the label, I can try to transcribe and translate the gothic (Fraktur) typeface. #As Ian said, the label states that the design is based on information/suggestions/research/specifications provided by Konrad Wolki. #The scope of interpretation for the phrasing "nach Angaben von" is fairly wide: Wolki may have carried out historical research, he may have suggested technical innovations for an existing design, he may also just have been the customer for a bespoke instrument who told the builder precisely what type he wanted. #The actual builder appears to be the second name, "Hans K(R?)ago??y", and the mandolin was built in the year 1938 ("gebaut im Jahre 1938").

A quick web search shows that Konrad Wolki was a composer who lived from 1904 to 1983 in Berlin. #There is a long list of his compositions on a Japanese web site #here (http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~mandolin/collect/score-w.htm). #That site is headed "Mandolin Melodies", and there are lots of other hits for that name in the context of repertoire played by modern mandolin orchestras. #Konrad Wolki is also given as the co-author (with Keith Harris, who may have been the translator) of a book titled "History of the Mandolin: The Instrument, Its Exponents and Its Literature, from the Seventeenth Until the Early Twentieth Century", published in paperback by the Plucked String Foundation in Arlington, VA in 1984. #

A particularly interesting link is here (http://www.mandoisland.de/bilder/schulen/woelki.html). #This German site spells his name "Wölki" (Bob -- is there an umlaut on your label?) and it translates:

"Konrad Wölki is considered to be one of the most important composers for plucked string orchestras. #After the heyday of romantic mandolin playing dominated by tremolo, he decided on a return to the original style of playing the mandolin. #The mandolin tutor published by Konrad Wölki is amongst the most widely used mandolin tutors in Germany. #The "Deutsche Schule für Mandoline" (German Mandolin Tutor), the "Studienwerk für Mandoline" (Etudes for Mandolin) and the "Mandolinen-ABC" were first published between 1937 and 1939". #

There follow on the site reproductions of the covers of these books (liberally decorated with swastikas) together with summaries of the contents.

Searching on Google for "Wölki" (with umlaut) is even more productive and leads to his family's homepage (http://www.familie-woelky.de/ahnen/personen/woelky/konrad_woelki.htm). #There you can see a photograph and a lengthy biography (in German). #This says that he taught plucked string intruments at the Berlin Conservatoire from 1932 to 1940 and was the founder and leader (for 50 years) of the "Berliner Lautengilde" (Berlin Lute Guild). #Finally, you can hear one of his pieces recorded by a German mandolin orchestra here (http://www.taunusfreunde.de/).

From the above, it would appear that Wölki was both a composer and a historian, so the instrument you have is either:

- A historical reconstruction researched by Wölki.

- An instrument designed by Wölki as suitable for his compositions (effectively a signature model, like the Vega Pettine), or,

- A marketing tie-in with his mandolin tutor that was published at the same time, i.e. an instrument aimed at his students as being recommended for use with the tutor.

Martin

[Martin Jonas]

Looking closer at the site with the Wölki tutors, I noticed that these books were published by "Verlag (publishers) Hans Ragotzky". #That's almost certainly the same name as on the label of Bob's mandolin. #So, the label has two names: the author of a popular mandolin tutor (25000 copies sold, it says, despite the onset of war), and its publisher. #Unless either of them is also a builder (unlikely, but possible -- see Calace), that leaves the builder anonymous. #Searching for "Hans Ragotzky" gives only a few hits, all of them on publishing, not on instrument making. #The publishing house is also referred to as "Der Volksmusikverlag" (The Folk Music Publishers).

I'd say that points towards a marketing tie-in -- the publishers may have been offering complete student sets with tutor and instrument sold together.

Martin

[Eugene]

I'd love to see this thing.

Yes, Martin, Keith Harris is the translator of Wölki's little text. It is a fun little booklet, but the scholarship behind it is a little dated.

It was massively common during the mandolin heyday in the US for publishers and retailers (e.g., Ditson, Fischer, B&J, Wurlitzer, etc.) to commission instruments for their house brands from established makers (e.g., Lyon & Healy, Favilla, Martin, etc.). I suspect this is the case here and would guess such musical manufacturing cross-pollination was common across the Wandervogel movement.

[Bob A]

Wow, a mother lode of information.

I was aware of Wolki's role in promoting the mandolin, from his booklet and from mention in Sparks. The Ragotzky tie-in is interesting.

The instrument is mid-level in materials despite the carved ribs, and is not on the same level as the Vega/Pettine instrument. The label is interesting in that it is printed in brown, with the date and model (6 / III) being typewritten, and the Wolki signature in black. I'm leaning toward an actual signature now, since there's no other black on the label. This would imply a less than mass-produced run of instruments, a conclusion borne out by the fact that this is the only example I've seen, and more importantly on that score, it is unfamiliar to Ian, who has been deeply involved with German instruments.

[Alex Timmerman]

Hello Bob et all,

Martinjonas is closest here:
"the publishers may have been offering complete student sets with tutor and instrument sold together".


This was certainly the case and the label of Bob´s mandolin should therefore be read like: (a "Deutsches Zupfinstrument") model build after the ideas from the friends Konrad Wölki (the publicist) and Hans Ragotzky (Wölki´s publisher).

However, both men were no mandolin makers. The actual instruments were made by someone else (since bob´s mandolin is a ´nr 6 /III´, a picture is really needed here).


I have some more about Wölki and his connection with mandolin making (even a ´Wölki´ mandolin somewhere) and - if time permits - add some more on the issue in the coming days.


Greetings,

Alex

[trebleclef528]

hello everyone,
Bob - I asked Juergen Thiergärtner, a well known mandolin/guitar collector/dealer in germany to check this out for you - he has replied saying that he has never heard of such a mandolin and does not recognise the name of the builder.he will make enquiries with some other mando fans in germany and get back to me if he has any news.
regards from very wet Scotland,
Ian

[Jim Garber]

Bob:
Any chance we can see some pics of this wonder? How is the sound and playability? Does it speak German, musically speaking ie how does it compare with your other Italians.

Jim

[Bob A]

Prospect of pictures dubious, but not impossible. Sound is a bit thunky, probably due to Thomastik strings. I hate to toss them, given that they're expensive and reasonably fresh, but I suspect I'd like the sound better with something brighter. Sound is perhaps influenced by smallish soundhole as well. Size is fairly substantial, perhaps a shade smaller overall than the Calace. No playability problems.

Perhaps I should get a rubber pick and go native?

[Jim Garber]

Bob:
If you can get some digital pics I can help you post them. If not digital, I can scan hardcopy pics for you and post.

Jim