This guitar is a very early and rare size “0” C. F. Martin guitar, probably the second 0 size guitar made. A total of seventy 0 size guitars, in all styles, were made between 1854 and 1864, with only nine being 0-22 or 0-24 guitars. The first two size 0 guitars were a 0-24 and […]
Serial number 59229 was stamped on February 23, 1935 and cleared final inspection on May 8 that year. The tuners are clipped plate Grover G-98 machines with rounded metal buttons. Style 17 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Mahogany Purfling: Single white line Binding: Mahogany (?) Other period features: Scalloped X-bracing Rosewood fingerboard Dot inlays […]
This is a rare bird indeed! It is one of only two OM-42 guitars ever made, both in 1930. Serial number 43708 was stamped on August 22, 1930 and cleared final inspection on September 12 (only 3 weeks later!) As an early example of an OM guitar it has banjo tuners and the small OM […]
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 99590 was stamped on April 2, 1947 and cleared final inspection on August 1 that year. The tuners are probably three-on-a-side D & J (Dinsmore & Jager) #31 machines. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) – Although Sitka spruce was the norm for Martin guitars at the time, […]
The Martin & Coupa had business relationship from early 1840 until John Coupa’s death on May 18, 1850. The business did not make guitars but operated a “depot” at 385 Broadway in New York to cater to the large music trade in that city. This guitar does not have a Martin & Coupa label glued […]