Joseph Bohmann was born in Czechoslovakia and emigrated to the USA and by 1878 was building instruments in Chicago. Bohmann was perhaps the first builder of mandolins in the USA and he also pioneered the use of strong top bracing which allowed his guitars to be strung with light steel strings. He also made guitars and mandolins with sympathetic resonating strings or rods and harp guitars. He was active until around 1930.

Bohmann's soundhole labels proclaimed him "The World's Greatest Musical Instrument Manufacturer", and were adorned with pticures of medals recieved at exhiitions: Paris 1889, Chicago 1893, Antwerop 1894, and Atlanta 1895.

Source: harpguitars.net Jospeh Bohmann