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George F. Smedley was listed by the Berend School of Music as Head of the Guitar, Mandolin, Italian Lute, and Five String Banjo departments. He previously served on the faculties of the University of Toronto and the Toronto College of Music. A hand-written note on the circular addressed to "Mr. Martin" states "Please note that I am using your 'Martin.' Regards to your father and brother." C.F.

Magazine advertisement is circa 1974. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

Harold T. Zellner was born in in Moore Township, Pa. on May 18, 1913 and resided for most of his life in Nazareth, Pa. He was employed by C.F. Martin & Co. for 28 years. Zellner was an enthusiastic musician. He received his first instrument, an accordion, when he was 14. He later took up the guitar and while employed at Martin he was permitted to make his own guitar for $8, the cost of the materials. After he retired, Zellner and his wife Thelma regularly performed for residents at nursing homes in the Lehigh Valley. C.F.

The mandolin, popular in Europe, grew rapidly in popularity in the late 19th century in the United States. C.F. Martin & Co. began producing mandolins in 1895 and sales increased rapidly. During 1906-09 Martin produced more mandolins than guitars annually. The Style A had a mahogany body with a spruce top, and an ebony fingerboard. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

The 1932 Martin Model 18 guitar has a spruce top, mahogany body, and an ebony fingerboard. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

The early part of the 20th century saw a rapid rise in the popularity of the ukulele. C.F. Martin & Co. developed a mahogany top ukulele in the mid-teens and a koa top in 1920. The company estimates it made more than twice as many ukuleles as guitars during the 1920s. The Style 1-T was produced from 1928-77. It featured a mahogany body and a 12 fret, later a 14 fret, rosewood fingerboard, with patent pegs. A tenor ukulele is larger than a standard ukulele and produces a louder and deeper tone. C.F.

The early part of the 20th century saw a rapid rise in the popularity of the ukulele. C.F. Martin & Co. developed a mahogany ukulele in the mid-teens and a koa wood style in 1920. The company estimates it made more than twice as many ukuleles as guitars during the 1920s. The Style 1 was produced from 1916-1965. It featured a mahogany body and a 12 fret rosewood fingerboard. This model was also available as Style 1-K with a koa wood body starting in 1920. The 1921 model shown here had a rosewood outer body binding and wood friction pegs. C.F.

C.F. Martin, born January 31, 1796 in Markneukirchen, Saxony, learned how to build guitars while apprenticed to Johann Stauffer in Vienna. He moved his family to the United States in 1933 and opened a music store at 196 Hudson Street. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

A tenor guitar has 4 strings while a standard guitar typically has 6. The tenor guitar is tuned like a tenor banjo, so a tenor banjo player can easily transition to the tenor guitar. The 1929 Martin Model 5-17T is a tenor guitar with a mahogany body, rosewood fingerboard, and internal gear pegs. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

In this clipping, C.F. Martin, III confirms that Elvis has no plans to visit the factory to purchase a guitar. This clipping is possibly from the "Nazareth Item." C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

Advertisement offering various types of customization for Martin guitars. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

The mandolin, popular in Europe, grew rapidly in popularity in the late 19th century in the United States. C.F. Martin & Co. began producing mandolins in 1895 and sales increased rapidly. During 1906-09 Martin produced more mandolins than guitars annually. The Style A had a mahogany body with a spruce top, and an ebony fingerboard. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

Advertisement shows a man and a women, each playing Martin dreadnought guitars. Martin developed the Dreadnought in the 1930s in response for the demand for a larger guitar that could produce louder, deeper tones. Martin previously produced Dreadnoughts under the Ditson name. During 1931, Martin produced the first Dreadnoughts under its own name, the D-1 and D-2, later named D-18 and D-28. The Dreadnought was adopted for many types of music, especially bluegrass, country, folk, and rock. Martin Dreadnought models have a "D" prefix. Note the different spelling used in the advertisement.

C.F. Martin III assumed control of C.F. Martin & Co. from his father Frank Henry Martin in 1945. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

The 1929 Martin Model 2-17 guitar has a mahogany top and body and a rosewood fingerboard. It was one of the smallest instruments produced by Martin and also one of the most inexpensive, retailing at $32.50 in 1929. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

Wood used to build instruments can be seen in the foreground. Note the large amount of natural light available to the workers. The North Street factory was built in 1859. Many additions were made over the years including adding a two-story frame building in 1880, a large brick building to accommodate ukulele production in 1925, and a second story two years later. Martin built a new 62,000 square-foot factory in Upper Nazareth in 1964. C.F.

Prices for a Martin Style 21 in 1898 ranged from $27.50 for the smallest model to $35 for the largest. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

Frank Henry Martin and Jennie Keller Martin posed in front of a stack of elk horns, possibly in front of a hotel. Frank Henry Martin led C.F. Martin & Co. from 1888 to 1945. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

The 1927 Martin Model 0-18 guitar has a spruce top, a mahogany body, an ebony fingerboard, and a mahogany neck. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

The 1923 Martin Model 0-18K guitar has a koa wood top and body, an ebony fingerboard, a mahogany neck, and was strung with steel strings. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.

The early part of the 20th century saw a rapid rise in the popularity of the ukulele. C.F. Martin & Co. developed a mahogany ukulele in the mid-teens and a koa wood style in 1920. The company estimates it made more than twice as many ukuleles as guitars during the 1920s. The Style 3 was produced from 1918-1977. It featured a mahogany body and a 17 fret ebony fingerboard. This model was also available as Style 3-K with a koa wood body starting in 1920. The 1928 model shown here had a top binding of alternating stripes of white celluloid and ebonized maple, and patent pegs. C.F.

The early part of the 20th century saw a rapid rise in the popularity of the ukulele. C.F. Martin & Co. developed a mahogany top ukulele in the mid-teens and a koa top in 1920. The company estimates it made more than twice as many ukuleles as guitars during the 1920s. The Style 1-T was produced from 1928-77. It featured a mahogany body and a 12 fret, later a 14 fret, rosewood fingerboard, with patent pegs. A tenor ukulele is larger than a standard ukulele and produces a louder and deeper tone. C.F.

Advertsing card listing C.F. Martin & Co. prices for select guitars, mandolins, and ukuleles in 1922. C.F. Martin & Co., founded in 1833 and headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is the world's oldest surviving producer of guitars and the largest producer of acoustic guitars in the United States.