Vladimir Potkin is a maker of Altay komuses from Gorno-Altaysk. In 1987, together with Sergey Deyna, he began series production of the instruments at the “Gorno-Altaysky Souvenir” cooperative. This operation has been described as the first mass production of jaw harps in the USSR; from its earliest years, the komuses became known beyond the Altay Republic and in other regions of Russia.

For the first five years, Potkin experimented with designs and production methods. By 1993, the recognisable shape of the komus and a stable manufacturing process had been established. The maker developed special machines for forming the instruments, while the final finishing, reed fitting and sound adjustment were carried out by hand. This made it possible to produce relatively consistent instruments in large quantities.

By the early 2000s, Potkin’s small komuses had become widespread beyond the Altay Republic and were among the most recognisable types of jaw harp in Russia. In a study of the Russian jaw harp community, 12% of the 199 respondents identified these instruments as the typical jaw harp.

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