It's a little bit disappointing. I'm the newest member in this Weymann group and none of the other Weymann lovers contacted me in the meantime. Should I stay, should I go?
6 Comments |
 | rudykizuty says:
3/18/2017 9:49:39 AM
Welcome to the group. I have been here for a few months and also noticed it was not a very active group. But I do note also that it is a very small group compared to many others. That said, my knowledge of Weymann is limited compared to what I know about some other vintage makes, but I would be more than happy to help with info in whatever way I can. PS I was born and raised in Philadelphia, where these beauties were made. I also have a good friend who's grandfather worked for Weymann making banjo necks :-)
|
 | stylexnumber9 says:
3/18/2017 10:27:33 AM
Hello from Austria (not Australia). Thanks for your kind answer. Yes, but small groups should show double activity, you've started! I noticed great resemblence of the peghead's shape of my Weymann#7 with several of Puntolillo's Majestic banjos. Only style #7 not other Weymann styles. Does your good friend know anything from his grandfather reg. this fact? Made Weymann necks for Puntolillo or vice versa? Thanks for your kind reception in the group. Norbert
|
| rudykizuty says:
3/18/2017 12:56:13 PM
Unfortunately, I have no more info to share about my friend's grandfather. That was all that he told me. I also know that Weymann was put out of business in the early 1930's by a fire that destroyed their manufacturing facility. I am even less familiar with Puntolillo except that I believe they were located in New York City. I guess it's perhaps conceivable that some displaced artisans from Weymann relocated there (?) but that would be mere speculation.
|
mosco says:
3/18/2017 1:46:19 PM
About all I can tell you is what little I have gleaned from the Weymann catalog reprint from 1928 that I have seen, and there is a great deal of difference in appearance in your Style 7 and the less rare Style 2 (which I have) and Style 4 models. It isn't a very active site, but as rudy says, there aren't a lot of members. I grew interested in Weymann banjos after hearing Paul Prestopino play one with the Chad Mitchell Trio, and visiting with him about it afterwards. He had made a 5-string neck for it, and it was a great-sounding instrument. I have seen a Style 2 5-string conversion, and what was purported to be an original 5-string, and may well have been, but someone had "upgraded" the inlays if it was. The reality is, even though I have been a fan of the brand for many years, I can count all that I have seen in person on my fingers, and have a few fingers left over.
|
| stylexnumber9 says:
3/19/2017 7:00:35 AM
Dear Weymann friends. majesticguitars.co/history-of-majestic/ show details about Gaetano Puntolillo and the history of his Majestic banjos. banjoworld.de/Majest14.htm shows a Majestic with the SAME peghead shape like the Weymann #7 DeLuxe bjo: banjoworld.de/High312.htm. Read also the second chapter of the Majestic history in the above mentioned website in chapter "1900s: Tone Ring Patent" Puntolillo should have made necks for Weymann, esp. #7! Special thanks to rudykizuty and mosco for contacting me. Norbert
|
 | CanadianClub says:
3/19/2017 9:26:11 AM
Hi Norbert & others following this thread.
I was introduced to Weymann Banjos during a FIGA's (Fretted Instrument Guild of America) 30th annual convention held in Flint Michigan in 1987. At that time I was seriously looking at Paramounts. At that convention I met a gentlemen, Achim Hippenstiel, who shared a lot of information with me about Weymann. A few months after the convention he sent me additional information (via snail mail) including patents etc. I have recently reconnected with him after these many years. Suffice to say, I purchased my very first Weymann Style #3 at the convention. It remains my main player in my collection. As a woodworker who appreciates craftsmanship, unique design elements and features, it remains "my brand". I now have a collection that encompasses all of the Styles from 1 through 6. Missing is a #5 and the elusive #7. The closest I ever got to a #7 is shown in my profile pictures of me positioned next to the #7 display case at the Banjo Museum at the old location in Guthrie OK. I was also fortunate to purchase the Weymann #2, owned and showcased by Johnny Baier, the Executive Director of the American Banjo Museum. Johnny even sent me the display art work that accompanied the exhibit. My love for banjo began at age 2 with a black and white picture of me sitting in a high chair holding a "banjo rattle". I am pretty sure it was a 4-string. I blame the rattle on my addiction. I started on a 5-string (Washburn) after graduating from the University of Waterloo. After being introduced to Dixieland Jazz, by my banjo instructor, Jamie Macpherson (5-string and tenor player), I started attending FIGA conventions and bought my first Weymann and pursued Jazz repertoire. During my search for Weymann tenors, I managed to acquire a Weymann 5-string. I understand Jerry Garcia played a Weymann 5-string early in his career. Anyway, we may be a small group but Weymann is my favorite for the reasons I have described.
I also collect antique Barbershop Chairs and I am a Barbershopper a cappella singer (Baritone and Tenor). These 4 B's, Banjos, Barbershop Harmony, Barbershop Chairs and Beer, go together real well.
Barry
|
Post a Comment
|
You must be logged in and a member of this group to post a comment.
|
