Weymann Stringed Instrument Serial Numbers Research Project – Please help by registering your Weymann.
Weymann Instrument labels include: H.A. Weymann & Son, Weymann & Son, Weymann, W & S, Keystone State, Weymann Mandolute, and Weymann Orchestral (banjos).
UPDATE 23 Jan 2021: I’m adding another Weymann label to this list, SHAPE G:
H.A. Weymann and Son of Philadelphia is a stringed instrument manufacturer dating from the late 1800’s to the early 1930’s. Most instruments are stamped with a serial number and Style number although the very early ones have neither, or just the serial number.
Weymann are important historically because of their beautiful workmanship, their diversity of instruments, their innovations and experimentations.
There is little doubt that ALL Weymann stringed instruments that are stamped with a serial number are in the same number sequence. But all records are lost.
With the help of other Weymann fans, I have been able to date these serial numbers to some degree: See WEYMANN SERIAL NUMBER DATING. I am starting this Weymann Registration Page with the hope of producing information that will add to the accuracy of this serial number dating table, especially after the date 1923. I am also hopeful it will produce additional general information about production.
(I have conducted a similar research project with vintage Bay State Instruments with luthier Sylvan Wells, who is the current owner of the ‘Bay State’ name. It was extremely successful in bringing forth information that would otherwise be lost over time: www.baystateguitar.com/SerialNumberProject/SerialNumbers.html)
So, if you own a Weymann made* guitar, banjo, tenor banjo, banjo ukulele, banjo mandolin, ukulele, taropatch, harp guitar, mandolin, mandolute or other Weymann stringed instrument, you can help with this project: please fill out the form below, once for each instrument. Your personal information and email address will NOT be published and will NOT be passed onto anyone. It will only be used to contact you if I think I need more information about your instrument(s).
UPDATE 20th May 2019: There are now over 200 instruments registered. Keep them coming in! I hope to do a post soon of some of the insights that are revealed from the registration of these 200 instruments.
Registration Form:
No specific information will be published without permission.
If you prefer you can contact me personally charles@koolaru.com
*A clarification: sometime in the 1930’s Weymann ceased their own production and had guitars and possibly other instruments made by Harmony, Kay, or Regal, but labelled ‘Weymann’ on the front of the headstock. These do NOT carry a Weymann serial number, or a gold decal label on the back of the headstock. Below are some examples of these guitars. You can still register these instruments and tick ‘other’ in the ‘Decal’ box:
Also some of the very early banjos did not carry a gold decal or serial number, but instead had the name impressed into a brace at the back of the banjo:
If you have a banjo with either of these please make a note in the ‘Comments’ box of the Registration form.
One last request. If you have sent me details about a Weymann instrument before, please still fill in this form as my records of serial numbers have not been kept in one file until now. 🙂
Many thanks in advance
Charles Robinson