August Knopf

In 1893, Heinrich August Knopf established a specialized brass workshop in Markneukirchen, a prominent German town situated in the heart of the musical instrument-making hub of the Vogtland region. Drawing upon generations of local manufacturing traditions, Knopf chose a highly focused path, dedicating his craftsmanship almost exclusively to the intricate design and production of French horns. His instruments quickly gained a strong reputation for their reliable valve action and rich, authentic European tone, firmly embedding the Knopf name into the elite circle of traditional German horn makers.

The family's craft was successfully passed down to the next generation, though it split into two distinct branches as the twentieth century progressed. In 1919, August’s oldest son, Herbert Fritz Knopf, chose to chart his own path and established an independent brass workshop in Markneukirchen. This specialized venture proved remarkably resilient, outlasting decades of political and economic shifts in Germany, and it continues to manufacture highly regarded French horns to this day.

Meanwhile, the foundational family enterprise remained a thriving entity under family leadership. In 1926, August’s younger son, Kurt Knopf, took over the reins of the original August Knopf workshop, maintaining its high standards of master craftsmanship through the mid-twentieth century. Kurt was eventually succeeded by his own son, Edgar Knopf, who steered the workshop with deep respect for family traditions until his retirement in 1997. Following Edgar’s departure from the workbench, the historic firm closed its doors for good, concluding more than a century of continuous, direct-line lineage in the art of horn making.