WEYMANN VIOLINS

Until a few days ago I did not know that H.A. Weymann & Son made violins.  Then I had a reader send me in some photos of their Weymann violin with a label clearly stating, “Manufactured by Weymann & Son”. 

I do believe if Weymann’s say on the label they are the makers, then they are.  If not, at the very least, it would have left them open to criticism by their competitors.  Also, if the instrument has a serial number that fits into their sequencing then that is added confirmation it is Weymann made (they sold other instruments they did not make and those did not carry the distinctive gold decal label or a serial number).

WEYMANN VIOLIN 1.

With a serial number of 10606 I’m sure it is in the same serial number sequence as all of Weymann’s other stringed instruments and this would date the violin to about 1910-1911. This has been the owners violin for about 30 years and they assured me the ribboned wood (maple?) is real and not airbrushed and there are no markings on the metal tailpiece.

Just when I thought this may be a one off, the owner pointed out to me there was another Weymann violin for sale on the Reverb website:

WEYMANN VIOLIN 2.

Photos: Lasley Violins

The seller of this violin, Lasley Violins in Seattle, WA., has been kind enough to send me the serial number:

And as we might expect it was made close to the other instrument, around 1912.  Unless another violin turns up with a significantly different serial number, maybe Weymann’s had just a brief dalliance with violin making over a couple of years.

So there you go, another instrument to add to the many others manufactured by Weymann & Son.

UPDATE 21st January 2021

Because the above violins where made between 1910-1913 I didn’t think to look in later catalogues for information.  After checking out the Weymann c.1930 catalogue in contains many violins in there inventory, and most if not all, are made by specialized recognized violin makers.  Makers such as A. Gustav Haberlein Jr., E. Kreusler, Carlo Govoni, G.A. Pfretzschner, and Ernst Heinrich Roth.  Prices in 1930 ranged from $7.50 to $152.  I’m not aware if these later violins carried the “Manuf’d by Weymann & Son” label or not.  I suspect not.

Weymann could have made these two earlier violins by employing a specialized violin maker, or importing them, or commissioning them from a local maker and putting their label on them. However I’m inclined to think these early instruments were made in their own factory.

Over the years they have wholesaled other guitars they did not make (usually budget lines) but I have never seen those carry their gold label or serial number.  My conclusion is that if Weymann’s did use their label and serial number on an instrument, it was manufactured in their workshops. However there may be a few exceptions with more specialized instruments such as pianos and violins.

All the best

Charles

BTW the 2nd violin is for sale from Lasley Violins, Seattle, WA:  https://lasleyviolins.com/  or  https://reverb.com/item/7587836-weyman-keystone-state-violin