Traveling Boy: Guest: The Eichhorn Schwyzerorgelfabrik and Musikhaus

Guest: The Eichhorn Schwyzerorgelfabrik and Musikhaus

Christian Greuter

The Eichhorn Schwyzerorgelfabrik and Musikhaus
Story by Gary Singh
Photos by James Gaffney

Meet Our Guest Writer

Gary Singh is a newspaper columnist, travel writer and agent provocateur who surfaces most often in San Jose, California. He has published hundreds of articles on a wide variety of subjects including artificial life, skateboarding, vampires, Ron Paul, neurofeedback, Big Bird, Chuck Palahniuk, thrash metal, the funeral industry, soccer, fractals, Leonard Cohen, urban blight, information technology, ADHD and more. He walks a lot.

Gary Singh

omeone once said a man’s home is his castle, a safe refuge for all. Everyone knows the phrase. But in Christian Greuter’s case, his accordion-fabrication facility is his castle.

Especially now that a ridiculous accordion app exists for the iPad, I crave the real thing, just like a drug. As a result, I decide to fall off the wagon and go straight to the source—the Eichhorn Schwyzerorgelfabrik and Musikhaus, the oldest continuously operating accordion shop in Switzerland. An instrument retail annex adjoins the building, but naturally I’m in the workshop, amidst drill presses, heaps of miniscule metal parts and wooden planks, plus air compressors and other heavy machinery the tasks of which I can’t possibly identify. There are crates of paperwork, hand tools and leftover scraps of cardboard, leather and sheet metal. With soft wooden flooring and bay windows, the entire place exudes a light, airy feel despite the faint smell of sawdust and linseed oil. I fit right in, like an addict who discovers a dope house.

Christian Greuter at work in his accordion shop

Here in Schwyz (pronounced shveets), the oldest village in Switzerland, Greuter’s shop is a veritable bastion and he is a fifth-generation craftsman carrying on a tradition: the Eichhorn Schwyzerorgel, a type of diatonic button accordion and one of the foundations of Swiss folkloric music. Alois Eichhorn launched the business in 1886 and it stayed with the original family for just over 100 years. Werner Gretuer, Christian’s father, grew up working in the shop during the 1960s, learning the ins and outs of Eichhorn production directly from the original family. In 1990, he bought the business, keeping the Eichhorn name on all the products. Christian began hanging out at age five, caught the bug a few years later, and subsequently spent 16 years apprenticing with his father. Following three generations of the Eichhorn family and then his father, Christian now represents the fifth generation.

accordion and accordion parts at the Eichhorn Schwyzerorgelfabrik and Musikhaus

We make abut 30-50 accordions per year,” he tells me, through a translator. “That much adequately meets the demand, but most people bring in their old ones to get fixed. We’re always working on old ones.”

Each instrument is entirely hand-made and contains 3046 parts. The wood, all local, is walnut, maple, and ash from linden trees. The metal parts are used sparingly and air consumption is kept to a minimum, resulting in a lightweight and much quieter sound than most other accordions. No glue or plastic is used.

“Like wine, they improve with age.” Christian explains. “The wood hardens. The sound gets better the more you play it. No two are the same, just like no two pianos are the same. Each will have variations, some are softer, some have a more aggressive sound. Many times, a musician will have to play several before he finds the right one.”

At the back of the shop, a concrete stairway leads us up to the second story, where dozens of accordions in various states of repair and disrepair lay strewn about the environs. Several workbenches and workspaces occupy various parts of the room. A cabinet with sprays, aerosols and varnishes sits at the top of the staircase. A makeshift office occupies the far corner, where the tuning equipment is also kept. Spare accordion parts by the thousands lay just about everywhere: buttons, valves, metal hooks, reeds, wooden pegs, stencils, finger pads, and leather handles.

Christian says his customer base includes natives from across the country, as well as Swiss expats living abroad. Often when expats return to the country for vacation, they bring their Schwyzerorgels with them. Many people get their family crests imprinted on the instruments.

“If someone wants something adjusted, that’s easy,” Christian declares. “I know all the parts.”

I look around, noticing that there are no finished accordions anywhere to be seen.

“You can see those in the store,” he says, pointing downstairs towards the retail shop next door. Ranging in price from 3000-5000 Swiss Francs, most models are of the three-chord variety and can include anywhere from eight to 96 bass buttons.

Gretuer considers himself a craftsman and a repairman, but not a musician. In fact, none of the original Eichhorn makers—from the beginning down through Christian’s dad, Werner—were accordion players themselves. Neither is he. I ask what kind of music he listens to and he says AC/DC. Only then do I imagine an accordion version of Jailbreak.

On my way out, I pop into the retail annex and immerse myself in dozens of brand new accordions. Someone once said, “Use an accordion, go to jail.” But I have found my dope house. I am addicted to accordions and I cannot stop.

IF YOU GO:
Eichhorn Schwyzerorgelfabrik und Musikhaus
Hinterdorfstrasse 29
6430 Schwyz
Switzerland
Tel/Fax +41 811 49 51
www.eichhorn-schwyzerorgel.ch

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FEEDBACK FOR JULIO

The way I read this article, you stayed at the "Breeze and Waves". Do you have any pictures of the cottages, and would you recommend to some first time visitors to Caramoan?

--- Richard Simons, Stockton, CA

Hi Richard,

Breeze and Waves was still under construction when I stayed there in Feb. 2010. It should be finished by now. You can see pictures of the resort on this page. We got to stay in one of the small cottages in the picture. I'll recommend it to budget travelers but you might want to look at other options. We chose it because of its location right by the beach. You can try other resorts in the Caramoan town proper (you have to get a ride to take you to the beach and the jump-off point to go island-hopping but it's a relatively short distance). There are also two higher end resorts located on a cove and very near the islands: Gota Village Resort (unfortunately there is something wrong with their website right now) and its twin resort Hunongan Cove. Caramoan is a relatively new tourism development so resorts are just now being built.

You can go to this site for a good list of choices for accommodations in Caramoan: http://www.claireraborar.com/travel/caramoan-accommodation/

I should add that it might be good to go to Caramoan (and almost anywhere in the Philippines) during the dry season in December to May. June to November are the typhoon months and sometimes typhoons will still come during early December.

Julio

* * * * *

Hi, I'm planning to go to Caramoan this coming May. Would you know the number of Breeze and Waves Cottages? Thanks!

--- Ann, Manila, Philippines

Hi Ann,

Breeze and Waves' phone number is 0908-2911072. Look for Freddie. Hope you have a grand time at Caramoan!

Julio

FEEDBACK FOR NINO

I enjoyed Nino's contribution, since we all read about the frightening terrorist attack. Having travelled somewhat through India years ago, I am continually impressed with this country and the gentle spiritual aspects of this nation. Some day I look forward to going back. Nino has encouraged me. Thank you!

--- Yoka Y., Westlake Village, CA

FEEDBACK FOR RUSH & CHUCK

Dear Mr.s/counselors Brown and Koro,

Thank you for a very informed and succinct article on motorcycle accidents and the law. It inspired me to think about getting a motorcycle, but not have an accident. But, if I do I am now well informed with the basics of what to do providing I do not perish in the accident. Any tips about that too?

--- Unnamed

Dear Rush and Chuck,

I wish I had read your article before our camping trip the Friday prior to President's Day.

My wife and I were in a car accident on our way to a camp ground. We were "rear-ended" and the impact caused our car to crash into the car in front of us. The contents of the truck that we were riding scattered onto several lanes. It's a miracle our two dogs decided to stay inside the car. My wife and I were shaken up badly but despite the mess, I was still able to walk out of the car. I got the license plate of the driver in front of me but, to my surprise, after reviewing the little damage on his car, he then sped off. I didn't know you could do that! The driver who hit me from behind gave me his information and then he too left the scene without saying good 'bye. When the police arrived all I had to go by was the little information I had jotted down which I hope was truthful. What if it was bogus? What if I had written the plate number incorrectly? How would that affect my insurance? What if we were unconscious, who would have written down all that information?

I do have one suggestion if you are injured in an accident. The police asked if my wife wanted an ambulance to bring her to the hospital but we declined the offer. I remembered when I rode an ambulance years ago that it was not a comfortable ride. I was strapped to the stretcher and there were all sorts of medical equipment dangling noisily above me. As long as you are able, it is a more relaxful ride inside a car. Besides, isn't there a fee for ambulance service?

--- Dave S. of Pasadena, CA