Serial number 57851 was stamped on October 3, 1934 and cleared final inspection on May 7, 1935 (quite a long time in production for the period). At least four of the twenty-five guitars from this batch had dark tops. It was shipped to Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. in St. Louis MO on April 29, 1935. Clearly, enough of the batch was ready for shipment before the whole batch cleared final inspection.

This guitar is from the second batch of  1934 000-28 guitars with the shorter 24.9" scale, steel T-bar neck reinforcement and T-frets.

The tuners are Grover G-98 clipped plate machines with un-seamed butterbean buttons.

 

Style 28 features:

Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood

Top: Red spruce (Adirondack)

Purfling: Herringbone

Binding: Ivoroid

Back Stripe: Zig-zag purfling pattern

Other period features:

Scalloped advanced X-bracing

Ebony fingerboard

Ebony belly bridge

Steel T-bar neck reinforcement

1-3/4" neck width at nut

Tortoiseshell celluloid pick guard

Slotted diamond and square fingerboard inlays

Decal on front of headstock

C. F. Martin stamp on back of headstock

Style stamp

Photos courtesy of Jet City Guitars LLC