Josef Urban

History

Josef URBAN (1821-1893) was born in Cernuc, Czech Republic, and died in San Francisco, California, USA.
According to Henri Poidras's Critical & Documentary Dictionary Of Violin Makers Old & Modern, Urban was an excellent craftsman of a wandering disposition who established himself in New York in 1847, transferred his workshop to San Francisco, and then returned to Prague in 1863 for a short time before going back to the New World, where he eventually died in San Francisco.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff's Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart states that after his apprenticeship, he went to Vienna and Ödenburg, then to New York in 1847, and to California in 1852, where he remained for 11 years.
Lütgendorff further notes that Urban returned to Prague in 1863, opening a workshop at Jungmannovo n. No. 764, but did not stay long before returning to San Francisco, where he died.
John Dilworth, in The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, corroborates his birth and death dates and locations, stating he worked in Vienna and Sopron, Hungary, before emigrating to the USA in 1847, establishing himself in New York.
Dilworth indicates he moved to Los Angeles in 1852, returned to Prague from 1863 to 1876, and finally settled in San Francisco in 1876.
Sources contain conflicting information regarding the exact dates and duration of his returns to Prague and final settlement in San Francisco.

Craft

• Workmanship: Henri Poidras describes him as an "excellent craftsman" whose production was "not very important on account of his successive removals."
• Quality: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that he "was not ungeschickt, and if he wanted, could work very sauber."
• Characteristics: According to John Dilworth, his instruments featured "various models," often displayed "undistinguished workmanship," with some being of "commercial trade quality."
• Varnish: John Dilworth specifies a "red oil varnish."
• Labeling: Henri Poidras mentions a label: "Joseph Urban violin and guitar maker San-Francisco 18. ." John Dilworth notes a brand below the button: 'JU' and a label: "Joseph Urban / Violin and Guitar Maker / San Francisco. 1860."

Influence

• Teacher: Josef URBAN was a pupil of Emanuel Homolka in Prague, as stated by John Dilworth.
  Henri Poidras also identifies Homolka as his teacher.
  Willibald Leo Lütgendorff adds that he was also musically trained by Em. A. Homolka.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: Josef URBAN established workshops in New York, San Francisco, and Prague (at Jungmannovo n. No. 764).
• Branding: John Dilworth notes that instruments were branded below the button with 'JU'.
• Labels: Labels included "Joseph Urban violin and guitar maker San-Francisco 18. ." (Poidras) and "Joseph Urban / Violin and Guitar Maker / San Francisco. 1860." (Dilworth).

Summary

Josef URBAN (1821-1893) was a Czech violin and guitar maker known for his wandering disposition, working in New York, San Francisco, Vienna, Sopron, and Prague.
A pupil of Emanuel Homolka, his craftsmanship was generally good, though his production was limited due to frequent relocations.
His instruments often featured a red oil varnish and were sometimes branded with 'JU'.