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Topic: Karl Hermann Heinrich Weissenborn |
George Noe
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2020 3:16 pm |
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As I have informed folks on the Facebook Weissenborn groups, at age 81 I have given up efforts to publish a book on Hermann Weissenborn and his instruments. But I have a complete manuscript of the book that I am offering free of charge by email to those who ask.
Salient facts: (1) Hermann left Germany in 1902 with his mistress Adele Richter. Adele "Weissenborn" died in November 1908.
(2) Hermann went to Los Angeles with violin-maker Fritz Pulpaneck in 1910 to pave the way in the LA garment district for his daughter Meta following the NYC 1909 Shirtwaist Strike. But Meta married Ludvig Albert and stayed in NYC.
(3) Hermann built only one violin--a Stradivarius copy using Pulpanecks's forms and tools. This violin is in my collection.
(4) Hermann met Concepcion Ybarra in December 1912, who became Hermann's live-housekeeper while working in a clothing factory, and subsequently wife #3. He built his first steel guitar in early 1913.
(5) Concepcion saved her money and gave Hermann $1300 (the equivalent of $30,000 today "to start his business" in 1916, according to a letter written by Hermann's son in 1922 to Agnes Herold, Hermann's daughter who stayed in Germany. The relationship between Hermann's son and Concepcion was very acrimonious due to the fact that Hermann was still married to Maria Hachmann, who he left behind when he ran off with Adele.
(6) A man named Albert A. Kolb, who managed a nearby lumber yard, cut all the koa wood for Weissenborn guitars. Kolb had worked in a furniture factory on San Pedro street years before, and helped to arrange the lease of the building to Hermann when the furniture factory moved to larger quarters in 1921.
(7) Weissenborn made about 3800 instruments, about 575 of which were Kona-labeled guitars for C.S. DeLano. Besides the violin, some the rarest instruments are about 20 with solid necks, about 40 Spanish guitars, and a handful of mandolins, plectrum and tenor guitars. There were around 3100 steel guitars, including the teardrop shaped ones. There were around 150 ukuleles.
Last edited by George Noe on 22 Jan 2020 4:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2020 4:10 pm
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| Thank you so much for sharing, Mr. Noe. Your work is a treasure trove. A very generous offer, indeed. |
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Glenn Wilde
From:
California, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2020 4:19 pm
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| This is great information, it's very nice of you to share your research on this classic American innovator. |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 19 Jan 2020 5:31 pm Thanks George
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Thanks George,
Very interesting to learn these things. I knew very little about those guitars though I've wanted to build a couple for a long time. I did help a student to build one back in 1994 and it came out quite well. He went on to build a few I believe.
Was also good to know I'm not the only luthier to have a rocky life with the ladies!   Got a new lady now and it looks like it will last! 
At 72 I'm semi retired now and started building again for fun so a Weissenborn style may well be on the horizon now? I'd like to do an 8 string and have done the drawings already.
Best wishes,
Andy
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2020 5:48 pm
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Just finished reading George Noe's new Weissenborn book. It is an important document that contains much new information about the man, his family, his production facilities, his instruments, and more. This is a major work that deserves to be presented in hardcover, much like Mr. Noe's and Mr. Most's previous book on Knutsen instruments.
Great work, Mr. Noe, and thanks for sharing. |
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George Noe
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2020 9:07 pm
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| The Weissenborn story is the result of several years of research. Mr. Manfred Nabinger dug through the archives in Hannover, Germany, and was in contact with descendants of Hermann. Mr. Nabinger broke open a big part of the story by discovering correspondence between the Weissenborn children that explained the connection between Concepcion and Hermann, and for his help I am eternally grateful. This story should not go the grave with me. |
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Peter Funk
From:
Germany
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Posted 20 Jan 2020 6:50 am
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I remember, when David Lindley did a concert near my hometown (Goettingen) in Germany (must have been around 2013?), he was introduced to a lady that was related to Mr Weissenborn. She was either his granddaughter or married to his grandson, can't quite remember ...
But she lives in a small village around here.
Since I read your excellent book on Knutsen's guitars, I'm curious about reading the one on Weissenborn's guitars. How can I purchase a copy? |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 20 Jan 2020 7:02 am
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Most any kid who grew up in the Twin Cities from the mid-fifties to the early-seventies would remember Hermann's grandson, the celebrity chef Hank Meadows. He had his own cooking show on WTCN Channel 11, and was a frequent guest on the children's show Lunch With Casey, starring Casey Jones and Roundhouse Rodney.
I can recite the intro from memory: "Casey Jones Express now arriving on Track 11... 'board, 'board..."
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