Discover the 168-year history of Hohner, the legendary maker of harmonicas and accordions. From Matthias Hohner’s humble beginnings to the creation of the Shand Morino and the one-of-a-kind Hohner Shand Gola, this is the story of craftsmanship, innovation and musical heritage.
Hohner: 168 Years of Craftsmanship, Innovation and Musical Legacy
For more than 160 years, Hohner has been synonymous with craftsmanship, innovation and musical excellence. Founded in 1857, the company remains one of the world’s most respected accordion makers, creating some of the finest instruments ever built.
From Clockmaking to Harmonicas
The Hohner story begins in Trossingen, Germany, with Matthias Hohner, a master clockmaker who turned his precision skills to crafting harmonicas. With help from his wife and a single employee, his instruments quickly gained a reputation for exceptional quality.
By the time of his passing, his workshop had become the largest harmonica factory in the world. It was an extraordinary achievement for a craftsman driven by dedication and detail.
The Birth of the Hohner Accordion
By 1903, Hohner expanded into accordion production, and within a decade opened a factory dedicated entirely to meeting growing global demand.
When Ernst Hohner, Matthias’s grandson, took over in the 1920s, he transformed the family business into an international name. His leadership is often described as Hohner’s golden age, a period of remarkable innovation and global success.
The Morino Revolution
In 1928, Ernst Hohner made a visionary move by inviting Venanzio Morino, an exceptionally talented Italian accordion designer, to join the company.
Morino’s innovative designs introduced converter systems, reed controls, and advanced internal mechanisms that completely reshaped the sound and playability of Hohner accordions. His ideas set a new global benchmark for accordion design and engineering, influencing generations of instruments that followed.
Morino served as chief design engineer until 1952, leaving behind a legacy that still defines the brand’s reputation for excellence.
The Gola Era
After Morino’s retirement, Hohner welcomed another Italian master, Giovanni Gola, born in Stradella in 1907. Having honed his craft at Dallapé, Gola joined Hohner in 1953 and designed some of the company’s most iconic models: the Atlantic, Lucia, Pirola and Marchesa.
In 1956, he unveiled what would become Hohner’s crown jewel — the Hohner Gola. Even today, this meticulously hand-built accordion represents the pinnacle of craftsmanship, with new models valued at over £40,000.
Challenges and Revival
By the 1970s, Hohner faced significant challenges. Markets shifted, production changed, and the company even ventured briefly into computer manufacturing. Despite these ups and downs, the spirit of Hohner endured.
After a period of restructuring in the 2000s, Hohner re-emerged stronger. Today, the Bravo, Amica and Nova ranges are made in China, while the Ventura, Morino and flagship Gola models are still hand-built in Trossingen, maintaining the brand’s proud German heritage.
The Shand Legacy: Scotland’s Voice Through Hohner
No story of Hohner would be complete without mentioning Sir Jimmy Shand MBE, one of the most celebrated accordionists of all time.
From humble roots in Fife, Jimmy Shand’s unmistakable playing style carried him from Scottish dance halls to the Sydney Opera House and Carnegie Hall. His music captured the soul of Scotland and inspired countless players around the world.
The Shand Hohner Special
While working at J.T. Forbes Music Shop in Dundee, Jimmy began collaborating with Hohner engineers to design a new type of accordion. His partnership with Charles Forbes and the German team produced the Shand Hohner Special, a compact and versatile three-row button accordion that defined his distinctive sound.
The Creation of the Shand Morino
Jimmy was never satisfied with “good enough”. Seeking an even faster and more responsive instrument for Scottish dance music, he worked directly with Venanzio Morino to develop what many still call the finest button accordion ever made: the Hohner Shand Morino, released in 1951.
This revolutionary model featured:
- 46 treble buttons with push/pull action
- 117 bass buttons
- Slimmed-down pallet sets for reduced weight
- Enhanced mechanics and a refined air valve system
The first four units were made for Jimmy himself. I am proud to say that I now own the very first Shand Morino ever built, and it has been an honour to perform with it at events across Scotland, including the famous Gillies Ball at Balmoral, where Jimmy himself once played.
A One-of-a-Kind Masterpiece: The Hohner Shand Gola
In 1964, Hohner commissioned Giovanni Gola to create a one-of-a-kind instrument for Jimmy Shand. Completed and presented to him in 1966, the Hohner Shand Gola was a unique masterpiece, built to his precise requirements. Only one was ever made.
After Jimmy’s passing, the instrument was inherited by his son, Jimmy Shand Jr., and later owned by Simon Howie, who has generously supported young accordionists, including myself. Through his kindness, I now have the privilege of caring for this irreplaceable piece of musical history.
Preserving the Hohner and Shand Heritage
Today, the Hohner Shand Gola, the first-ever Shand Morino (No. 001) and Will Starr’s legendary accordion all form part of my personal collection here in Caithness. It is now the largest Shand Morino collection in the north of Scotland.
Each instrument tells a story of artistry, innovation and musical passion. They represent a living link between the German craftsmanship of Hohner and the Scottish musical tradition embodied by Sir Jimmy Shand.
It is a privilege to perform with these instruments and to share their sound and history with audiences across the country, ensuring that the legacy of Hohner and Jimmy Shand continues to inspire musicians for generations to come.
Brandon