Month: June 2016

A sweet sounding maple backed Weymann that would have been the lower end of the Weymann price range in it’s day.  It has a stylized painted faux rosewood finish over the maple. Beautiful spruce top.  Before this was repaired it was split in half along the side (see the first photo in the gallery), which is probably the reason the finish is in such good condition. We retained it’s ladder bracing and the only real addition was a new ebony bridge and an additional top up coat of French polish.
I think it would have originally had gut strings but seems to take lightweight Silk and Steel strings well.  As with all H.A. Weymann and Son instruments the workmanship is superb.

Dimensions:
Overall Length: 37″
Body Length: 18″
Lower Bout: 12 1/4″
Upper Bout: 8 3/4″
Depth at Base: 3 3/4″
Scale: 24 1/2″

Continue reading “WEYMANN Late 1890’s Budget/Student Guitar” →

Keystone State’ labeled, Philadelphia based H. A Weymann and Son c.1922 rare guitar. Ladder braced, spruce top, very beautifully grained dark rich red mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck and headstock, original ebony fretboard.  I read where someone thought that Weymann used Cuban mahogany on their guitars, that makes sense.

Continue reading “WEYMANN c.1922 Style 630 ‘Parlor’ Guitar” →

This Weymann guitar appeared for sale on ebay in May 2013. It has Brazilian rosewood back and sides and a spruce top. It is a beautiful large vintage instrument, and does not carry a serial number (I asked at the time), therefore if I am correct that would date it late 1890’s. It has the Weymann decal shield shape that was used prior to 1910. “Weymann Highest Grade”.

Dimensions:
Total Length        38 1/2″
Body Length        19 1/2″
Upper Bout          10 1/2″
Lower Bout          14 5/8″
Body Depth          4 1/8″
Scale                     25″

Unusually for the era it has banjo tuners.  It also has beautiful purfling and sound hole rosettes, and mother of pearl fret markers.

I would love to hear from you if you own this guitar.

Continue reading “Weymann Guitar – OO size, Late 1890’s” →

H. A. Weymann and Son was founded by Henry Arnold Weymann (c.1829 – 1892) who was born in Hanover, Niedersachsen, Germany about 1829.  According to his descendent, Greg Weymann he was christened Heirich, but Henry is the name he used in America.

Henry migrated to America in 1852, arriving in Philadelphia where he lived the rest of his life.  He was naturalized in 1858. In 1864 he commenced a small business and it is from this date that Henry later attributes to the founding of H.A. Weymann and Son. In 1865 he is reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer as having an annual taxable income of $136.

From early trade cards (late 1800’s and early 1900’s) it appears he started out selling diamonds, jewelry, watches and clocks. harmonicas, sheet music, and ‘small goods’, some of which were most likely imported from his birth country, Germany.

Continue reading “H. A. WEYMANN and SON – History Pt 1: The era of H.A. (Henry) Weymann” →

When his father died in 1892 the young 26 year old Harry (H. W. Weymann) energetically expanded the business.

In 1899 the S.S. Stewart Banjo factory in Philadelphia closed following the death of the company’s founder the previous year.  There is conjecture Harry Weymann took advantage and purchased some of the materials and equipment from this factory and hired retrenched Stewart workers to greatly expand his manufacturing.

Continue reading “H. A. WEYMANN and SON – History Pt 2: The era of H.W. (Harry) Weymann” →