Serial number 64556 was stamped on October 8, 1936 and cleared final inspection on December 11 that year. The tuners are Grover G-98 pointed plate machines with rounded metal button. This is one of those late 1936 Martin guitars with a darker than usual pick guard (please consider the photos were taken in strong sunlight). […]
Serial number 60245 was stamped on June 26, 1935 and cleared final inspection on August 27 that year. It was shipped to Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. in New York on October 22, 1935. The tuners are Grover G-97 machines with unseamed butterbean buttons. Style 42 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: […]
Serial number 69345 was stamped on February 9, 1938 and cleared final inspection on July 7 that year. The guitar and case have decals for Wittich’s Music Shop. The Wittich’s branch in Reading PA were Martin dealers from 1929 to 1962 and this guitar was ordered by them on April 28, 1939. The tuners are […]
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: […]
Serial number 55622 was stamped on February 27, 1934 and cleared final inspection on May 22 that year. It was shipped to Carl Fischer Inc in Boston MA on July 19, 1934. This is one of the three guitars from the batch of six that were made with gut strings. That does not means the […]
Martin 1-28P guitars are scarce with only 19 being made. This example is the last 1-28P and the only one made as a 1-28PS (S=Special). This special guitar was ordered on May 7, 1930 by Humphreys Music Co. of Long Beach CA. It was stamped on May 10, 1930 and cleared final inspection on May […]
Serial number 51978 was ordered on October 7, 1932 by Chicago Musical Instrument Co. It stamped on October 11, 1932 and cleared final inspection on October 22 that year (only 11 days in production!) The neck is a replacement. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Lines Binding: Black celluloid […]
Serial number 73066 was stamped on August 10, 1939 and cleared final inspection on November 6 that year. The tuners are Grover pointed plate G-98 machines with unseamed butterbean buttons. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Lines Binding: Black celluloid Other period features: Rear-X scalloped braces Ebony fingerboard Ebony […]
Serial number 50306 is a 1932 dark top 00-40H. It was stamped on February 29, 1932 and cleared final inspection on June 14 that year. At least two 00-40H guitars were made with dark tops around this period but there may be more since Martin did not always record this feature, especially if a customer […]
Serial number 65836 was stamped on March 18, 1937 and cleared final inspection on June 17 that year. Like all 00-18H guitars it originally had a flat fingerboard, raised nut and saddle and a “dark top” (sunburst) finish. Also, like many 00-18H guitars it has been converted to Spanish playing by replacing the flat fingerboard […]