Serial number 44750 was stamped on November 13, 1930 and cleared final inspection on December 11 that year. The current tuners are modern replacements but with the original white celluloid buttons. The original tuners would have been Grover #90 banjo pegs. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Lines Binding: […]
Martin made the 14-fret Ochestra Model (OM) guitars from 1929 to the end of 1933. Beginning in 1934 the OM designation was dropped and these guitars reverted to the 000 designation. However, for a time in 1934 continued to use long scale (25.4″) necks on 000-18 guitars. In effect, these can be considered OM guitars. […]
Serial number 90987 was stamped on March 28, 1945 and cleared final inspection on June 25 that year. This guitar is one of the earlier war-time Martin guitars that got the re-issued steel T-bar neck reinforcement. Martin, due to war-time restrictions, had been forced to eliminate the steel T-bar neck reinforcement in early 1942 and […]
Serial number 72686 was stamped on May 23, 1939 and cleared final inspection on September 24 that year. The guitar has rear-X bracing but retains the 1-3/4″ wide neck. Style 18 guitars usually had black celluloid binding but the binding on this guitar is tortoiseshell celluloid. The tuners are Grover G-98 pointed plate machines with […]
Serial number 74767 was stamped on April 11, 1940 and cleared final inspection on October 8 that year. The tuners are Waverly 5038 mchines with rounded metal buttons. These tuners have a distinctive backing plate and are sometimes called “Yoda head” machines. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Binding: Tortoiseshell […]