More than 100 years ago, Emil Max Penzel founded the family business in Erlbach, a center for making musical instruments in Vogtland Saxony. His first bows were based on those of the leading French maker Lamy, but he soon developed his own designs and soon established the trademark "EM Penzel", between two horizontal trebles, as a guarantee of authenticity and quality of his work. Bows bearing the name "K. Gerhard Penzel" between two horizontal trebles have earned a reputation for excellence around the world, as evidenced by the many awards bestowed upon them, most notably the gold medal won by a set of four bows for string quartet in Liège in 1969. The son of Gerhard Penzel, Roland and his son Matthias, both masters of their craft, are the driving force behind the family business. The trademark of father and son "Roland G. Penzel and Matthias R. Penzel" is a guarantee of quality for the high-quality "Classic models", which meet all possible requirements in terms of design, craftsmanship and finish.

The "Silver" Pernambuco viola bow is equipped with a Parisian eye frog, numbered and engraved with the name Roland G. Penzel.