Gaesel| Legnani | 1860 | SN:None
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Luthier Facts :
Name: Karl August Glaesel
Location: Various
Status?: No Longer in production
RIYL: Early Romantic style guitars
Note: (RIYL) Recommended If You Like
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- Model: Legnani with sloping shoulders and with the clock key mechanism
- No serial number
- Year: 1860
- Top: Spruce
- Back & Sides: Brazilian Rosewood
- Back Bracing: Ladder bracing
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Bridge: Ebony Tuners: Not original
- Bridge Pins: 5 original Ivory pins
- Nut Width:1 11/16″
- Body Length: 36″
- Lower Bout: 11 3/4″
- Upper Bout: 9″
- Body Depth: 3 3/8″
The owner of this historical instrument, Clifford Lueck says: “I acquired this Karl August Glaesel guitar in 1996 from an Antique Store and it needed work. The top was very loose, the back was almost off, the bridge fell off, etc. In taking the back off I discovered German Script which you can see in one of the photos.
Translated from the Max Kade Institute of German American Studies, it reads: From K. August Glaesel Neukirchen Saxony All Kinds (of) Instruments 1860. I have since acquired more information on Karl August Glaesel that I will share. Karl August Glaesel Wiener from Markneukirchen. He worked (apprenticed) a length of time in Vienna.
He was a violin and guitar maker and lived 1809-1864. In 1843 he was taken in the Markneukirchen Guild of Violin makers. He made primarily guitars and in 1850/51 was the Superior Master of the Guild in Markneukirchen (Germany) (One has to remember that Germany was not Germany until the 1870′s.) The Glaesel family was an extended family of instrument makers, especially in violin making, but some were also guitar makers.
The most important guitar makers of the Glaesel family in the 19th Century were: Karl August Glaesel Wiener (1809-1864), Karl Wilhelm Glaesel (1813-1864) and Johann Ludwig Glaesel (1815-1900) brothers. Moritz Carl Glaesel Wiener (1828 Wien-1917), and Johann August Glaesel (1837-1900 New York) sons of Karl August Glaesel. Heinrich Hermann Glaesel (1838-1910), and Gustav Adolf Glaesel (1841-1908) sons of Karl Wilhelm Glaesel.
Karl August Glaesel’s nickname was “Wiener” because of his apprenticed days in Vienna. It is my belief that Karl August Glaesel apprenticed with Johann Georg Stauffer and until someone can prove me wrong, this is going to be my belief. One simply does not acquire the skills to make a guitar that 150 years later is still in playable condition unless they apprenticed with the Master himself, Johann Georg Stauffer.”
© Clifford J Lueck (used with permission)
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Wonderful guitar. I bet it sounds like an angel.
Very interesting. I also have an interest in the Glaesel family of MARKNEUKIRCHEN. Incidently as you probably know C F Martin came from Markneukirchen.In fact so much “stuff” came from the area that they had a US consuls office. Its Edwald Glasesel that I am interested in, an exporter of mandolins or mandolinettos (guitar shaped mandolins), apparently not a maker but a member of this large family. He must have exported a large number of these mandolins because they pop up on Ebay etc at regular intervals. They always have a label inside saying ” By his Majestys Royal Letters Patent no2272 The Neapolitan Patent Mandoline Co. Have traced the patent and it was registered in London in Jan 1902. These mandolinettos are very well made and have a lovely tone, very often having a transfer on the back of a gypsy lady. I wonder if they were made by the Glasels. You can see one for sale on a web site Pamelas Music in the UK Mandolin no. M210 . I have been in touch with the musical instrument museum at Markneukirchen and they supplied me with intersting info on Edwald. Well enough waffle just thought you might like to know a bit more about the Glaesel family. Your guitar looks lovely.I have a guitar which I am sure is German from the late 19th ct, by the look of it, lovely tone, very lightweight, and who knows it might have been made in Markneukirchen. Best Wishes Andrew Walker Manchester United Kingdom
Thanks for the reply. It plays like a dream and sounds like heaven.
C.J.L.
Andrew: Thank you for your comments and the data on Edwald Glaesel. You may want to use a mirror inside your 19th century guitar to see if there is any German Script by the maker. I discovered this when I had the back off of my 1860 KArl August Glaesel guitar.
C.J.L.