Martin Story
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ABRIEF H ISTORY OF T HE M ARTIN G UITAR C OMPANY TheTheMarMartintin StorStoryy The C.F. Martin Story OR WELL OVER A CENTURY Attempting to receive an injunction AND A HALF, THE MARTIN against the cabinet makers, the Violin F GUITAR COMPANY has been Guild launched an abusive rhetorical continuously producing acoustic campaign, declaring, “The violin makers instruments that are acknowledged to belong to a class of musical instrument be the finest in the world. makers and therefore to the class of The Martin Guitar Company has, artists whose work not only shows finish, through the years, managed to survive but gives evidence of a certain under- with each succeeding generation from standing of cultured taste. The cabinet C. F. Martin, Sr.’s Stauffer inf luenced makers, by contrast, are nothing more creations of the 1830s to recent devel- than mechanics whose products consist opments introduced by C. F. Martin of all kinds of articles known as furniture.” IV. Continuous operation under family Slandering the work of the cabinet management is a feat bordering on the makers, the Violin Guild added, “Who remarkable, ref lecting six generations is so stupid that he cannot see at a of dedication to the guitarmaker’s glance that an armchair or a stool is no craft. In or out of the music industry, guitar and such an article appearing C. F. Martin has few rivals for sheer among our instruments must look like staying power. Saul among the prophets.” Throughout its colorful history, the In defending their right to manufac- company has adapted successfully to CHRISTIAN FREDERICK MARTIN, SR. ture guitars, members of the Cabinet 1796-1873 continual changes in product design, Founder of C.F.Martin & Co. distribution systems and manufacturing methods. In spite of the many changes, Shortly after launching his business in C. F. Martin has never veered away Markneukirchen, Martin found himself from its initial commitment to quality. caught in an acrimonious dispute The concern for producing the finest between the Cabinet Makers Guild instruments possible in 1833 is and the Violin Makers Guild. especially in evidence today at Martin’s Martin and his family had long been expanded facility in Nazareth, members of the Cabinet Makers Guild, Pennsylvania. as had numerous other guitar makers The story behind one of America’s in the area. Looking to limit competi- most famous guitars began on January tion, the Violin Makers Guild sought Frank Henry Martin scroll cut this intricate plaque to 31, 1796, in Markneukirchen, to prohibit the cabinet makers from inspire his workers. It incorporates the Martin family Germany, with the birth of Christian producing musical instruments. motto in Latin: “Non Multa Sed Multum” which translates “Not Many But Much” or more commonly Frederick Martin, Sr. Born into a long “Quality Not Quantity.” line of cabinet makers, Christian Frederick took up the family craft at the early age of 15, when he left his C. F. MARTIN & CO. hometown and traveled to Vienna to remains one of the apprentice with Johann Stauffer, a longest surviving family owned and operated renowned guitar maker. manufacturers in the world. Six generations of the Martin family are Fleeing Restrictive pictured, each dedicated Guilds to the company’s While records of the period were primary product, their superbly well-crafted sketchy, it would appear that the young acoustic guitars. Martin was a gifted apprentice, as he was named foreman of Stauffer’s shop shortly after his arrival. After marrying and bearing a son, he returned to his CHRISTIAN FREDERICK MARTIN, JR. FRANK HENRY MARTIN homeland to set up his own shop. 1825-1888 1866-1948 Son of Christian Frederick Martin, Sr. Son of Christian Frederick Martin, Jr. 2 Makers Guild asserted that “violin staffed by over 600 employees. His distribution agreements with a variety makers had no vested right in the modest storefront housed a limited of teachers, importers, and wholesalers, making of guitars” and that “the guitar production set-up in the back including C. Bruno & Company discovery of the guitar” had been room, as well as a retail store selling (operating today as a subsidiary of Kaman), brought about 35 years ago and had everything from cornets to sheet Henry Schatz, and John Coupa. been completed by the cabinet maker music. Consequently, a number of Martin Georg Martin, father of Christian Given the limited output of guitars guitars manufactured prior to 1840 are Frederick Martin. In supporting their and the immaturity of the music market labeled “Martin & Schatz” and claim before local magistrates, the in 1833, distribution of Martin guitars “Martin & Coupa.” cabinet makers submitted testimony was a haphazard affair in the early from a noted wholesaler, who declared, years. To augment the sales of his Guitars For Wine “Christian Frederick Martin, who has retail store, C. F. Martin entered into Accepted business practices in the studied with the noted violin and early days of Martin’s retail and guitar maker Stauffer, has produced manufacturing operation were far guitars which in point of quality and removed from today’s methods and appearance leave nothing to be ref lected a simpler society. Barter was desired and which mark him as a common in the retail trade. distinguished craftsman.” C. F. Martin’s personal records contain While the cabinet makers numerous entries of trading musical successfully defended their right merchandise for everything from a to manufacture guitars, the drawn case of wine to children’s clothing. battle took its toll on C. F. Martin. New York City’s teeming Lower West Concluding that the guild system Side was a harsh environment that was severely limited opportunities in a world apart from the pastoral Saxony Germany, he made the decision to where Martin and his family grew up. emigrate to the United States, and Correspondence between Martin and on September 9, 1833, he left his his close friend and business associate, homeland for New York City. Henry Schatz, revealed that he never On arriving in New York, he quickly set up shop at 196 Hudson Street, on the Lower West Side. Table of Contents Martin’s first establishment on these shores was a far cry from the company’s C.F. Martin Story . .2 current 180,000-square-foot factory Dreadnought Story . .10 HERBERT KELLER MARTIN CHRISTIAN FREDERICK MARTIN III FRANK HERBERT MARTIN CHRISTIAN FREDERICK MARTIN IV 1895-1927 1894-1986 1933-1993 1955 – Brother to Christian Frederick Martin III Son of Frank Henry Martin Son of Christian Frederick Martin III Son of Frank Herbert Martin 3 felt truly at home in New York and instruments. Until the mid-1840s, The 1850s also witnessed one of longed to move. In 1836, Schatz Martin guitars were characterized by a C. F. Martin’s major design innovations, moved to the rolling hills of headstock that had all the tuning keys the “X” bracing system for the guitar Pennsylvania, purchasing a 55-acre on one side. Martin acquired this top. Still in use in all steel-string tract near Nazareth. When C. F. design from his teacher in Vienna, Martin guitars today, the bracing system Martin’s wife paid a visit to Schatz and Johann Stauffer. The headstock design is largely responsible for the distinctive his family, she developed an instant with all the tuning keys on one side Martin tone, characterized by brilliant affinity for the tranquil Pennsylvania was discontinued by Martin and went treble and powerful bass response. countryside. Upon returning to New unused until Leo Fender resurrected C. F. Martin, Sr. died on February York, she exerted what must have been 16, 1873, leaving to his family and the considerable inf luence and prompted musical world a fine tradition of guitar her husband to make the big making. Succeeding him at the helm of move to Nazareth. Thus, the young company was his son, 48- in 1838, Martin sold year-old Christian Frederick, Jr., who his retail store to was born in Germany. Since relocating another music dealer from New York City to Nazareth, the by the name of Martin Guitar Company had evolved Ludecus & Wolter from a one-man operation into a thriving and purchased an entity employing over a dozen craftsmen. eight-acre tract on the Originally located in the Martin family outskirts of Nazareth. He had homestead, Martin guitar operations obviously found what he wanted, for had expanded to the point where a MARTIN’S NORTH STREET PLANT, as it appeared in he spent the remainder of his life the early 1900s. Originally constructed in 1859, the factory was needed. In 1859, a plant there. building underwent numerous expansions in the 1920s was constructed on the corner of Main to accommodate rising mandolin and ukulele demand. The following years were a period and North Streets in Nazareth. Having of significant development for C. F. undergone numerous expansions, the Martin & Company guitar makers. In North Street plant is still used today addition to products sold by Ludecus as a warehouse and shipping location & Wolter in New York, company for strings and accessories, as well as records indicate that numerous shipments the site of Guitarmaker’s Connection, were made to the then centers of trade, a retail supply house for instrument which were primarily shipping posts making and repair. and those cities served by the canal system, since the railroad had yet to evolve. Martin’s shipping records made Testing a Young Man’s frequent mention of sales in Boston, Invented by C. F. Martin, Sr. in the 1850’s, the Character X-bracing pattern yields maximum strength with the least During the years following C. F. Albany, Philadelphia, Richmond, amount of wood, and hence great tone.