Walter Hamma
Walter Hamma ( born September 22, 1916 in Stuttgart, † August 11, 1988 ) was a German violin maker.
Life and work
Walter Hamma, son of Fridolin Hamma luthier, attended from 1933 to 1935, the Violin Making School in Mittenwald. He then worked for Ferdinand Jaura in Vienna and later for Caressa & Français in Paris. During World War II the father in Stuttgart Geigenbaugeschäft was completely destroyed. Father and son built it after the war together again. In 1948, Walter Hamma put the master exam in Stuttgart and took over the business in 1959.
The company Hamma was in Germany and Europe for many years one of the market leaders for high quality string instruments. Walter Hamma was 1963-1965 President of the International Association luthier EILA ( Entente Internationale des Maitres Luthiers et Archetiers d'Art ). He was regarded as the leading German expert, his published in three languages books on Italian and German violin-making are still important standard works of violin making. In 1982, Walter Hamma put to rest and the existing family business since 1864 has been resolved.