Founded in Schšnbach (Germany) in 1887 by master violin maker Karl Hšfner, the company became the largest manufacturer of stringed and fretted instruments in Germany. Excellent craft skills and business initiative laid the foundation for a reputation which, even before World War I, extended far beyond the borders of Germany. Thus, in 1907 Karl Hšfner was entrusted with the repair of the violin of the Saxon King, and the master performed his job to the full satisfaction of his client. When his two sons, Josef and Walter, joined their father's company in 1919 and 1921 respectively, the foundation to enter the worldwide export market had already been laid thanks to the consistently excellent quality of the Hšfner stringed instruments. To date more than two million stringed and fretted instruments - from student to master models - have been exported from Bubenreuth throughout the world.