Technical expertise, the skill of the craftsman and the eye of the artist all take time to develop. Such qualities are passed on from father to son, yet must adapt to changing times. This is the case with the Penzel family of Ostrach, Germany.

Over 100 years ago Emil Max Penzel, the great-great uncle of the present head of the company, founded the family business at Erlbach, a center for the making of musical instruments in Vogtland /Sachsen. His early bows were based upon those of the leading French maker, Lamy, but he soon developed his own designs and before long the trademark “E. M. Penzel”, between two horizontal treble clefs, established itself as a guarantee of authenticity and quality of his work.

The next family member to run the business was Kurt Penzel, and it was his son, Kurt Gerhard Penzel, who after his years of training and apprenticeship, transferred the business to Stuttgart where he acquired his Master Craftsman’s Diploma. In 1974 he moved his home and workshop to Ostrach, not far from Lake Constance. Bows bearing the name “K. Gerhard Penzel” between two horizontal treble clefs have earned a reputation for excellence all over the world, as demonstrated by the many honors confered upon them, in particular the gold medal won by a set of four bows for string quartet in Liège in 1969.
Now,  Gerhard Penzel’s son, Roland and his son Matthias,both master of their trade, has been the driving force behind the family Business. Roland got his master qualiofikation1977 in Stuttgart and Matthias 2008 in Nürnberg.