Anton Mervar

Anton Mervar (* 1885 † July 21, 1942 ) was an American instrument makers of Slovenian origin.

Life

Anton Bauer Mervar was harmonica. His education teaching he graduated at Lubas & Son, probably in Windischgrätz in Styria ( today Slovenj Gradec in Slovenia). There is a harmonica with a stamp, dated 1905: " Anton Merwar TRIFAIL Lower Styria accordion producers Created on 09.06.05 ". From Styria, he emigrated to the USA in 1912 and he settled in Cleveland (Ohio ). Mervar mastered English, German and Slovene, which brought him some advantages.

In 1921 he moved into a new, larger workshop in St. Clair Avenue, its previous workshop is probably unknown. He made there diatonic accordion. His instruments found customers all over the United States and were also overseas, mainly to Slovenia, shipped. Every two years, drove Anton Mervar to Europe to buy components for its production. He used to build his instruments primarily German reed plates.

He expanded his business area on trade with other musical instruments, records and the distribution of phonograph. Anton Mervar was hired by the then-known record labels such as Okeh Records, Columbia Records, Victor Talking Machine Company and Continental Records as a consultant. Here, he was specifically asked to evaluate the quality of tests at the record pressing. Also its recommendations were asked when it came to record contracts for music artist of the Cleveland -Style Polka. Cleveland -Style Polka is a Slovenian- American polka style. Some musicians like Matt Hoyer, Louis Spehek, Anton Strukelj or the Listen - Udovich duet owe their record contracts Anton Mervar.

Instruments of its production are traded to this day at premium prices among collectors and enthusiasts.

Death

He died along with his wife on July 21, 1942 following a serious traffic accident. His son was a diabetic and died immediately on a sugar shock when he heard of the news. His daughter Justine Reber, who inherited her father's company, sold the ordered and mostly unfinished accordions and manufacturing machinery to former employees who did their training at Mervar. The building was occupied by her on and she earned her living with the distribution and shipment of records.