Members Hoot Owl Posted January 22 Members Share Posted January 22 (edited) What does the 18 mean? It appears to be a quality grade. This is an early 1900's parlor. Any other info appreciated as well. Edit: I forgot to mention, the image below is on a piece of paper affixed to the inside of the coffin case. Edited January 22 by Hoot Owl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoot Owl Posted January 22 Author Members Share Posted January 22 (edited) Well, guess what, I think I found it. Just like that. Identifying Martin Guitars (vintagemartin.com) Before 1898, when Martin models were consolidated, it was more common for a specific trim level to be available only in certain sizes. These combinations of size and trim level dated to about 1852, when the model names were first developed. At the time, the number of the trim level was derived from the price of the guitar. Thus, in 1852, a Style 2-27 was a size 2 Martin with a trim level costing $27. This can lead to some confusion, since a style 27 is fancier than a style 28. This is because a style 27 was offered as a size 2, while a style 28 was offered as a larger size 0, which was more expensive to build. So, I guess it's a size 2 guitar that cost $18. Technically designated as 2-18. There is no serial number on the guitar. I guess this one can only be dated to a range of years. Does that make sense? Google is my friend. 😁 Edited January 22 by Hoot Owl 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoot Owl Posted January 22 Author Members Share Posted January 22 (edited) Understanding Martin Model Designations | One Man's Guitar (onemanz.com) After reading this, now I'm confused. He may be talking about more-modern Martins. In the early 1900's 18 may have meant something different. Anyone? A 000-18 stands for Size “Triple Oh” in Style 18 (or as some older Martin factory workers put it, “Triple Naught”,) which includes mahogany back and sides, and a top of spruce, with dark bindings on the body, an unbound neck and white dots on the fingerboard, etc. Edited January 22 by Hoot Owl 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoot Owl Posted January 22 Author Members Share Posted January 22 (edited) Vintage Guitars Info - Martin collecting vintage martin guitars (guitarhq.com) Older 1800s Martins are a challange to date (since they don't have a serial number like 1898 and later Martins). A "New York" stamp does not immediately suggest that the Martin guitar is from the 1830s for example. To accurately date pre-1898 Martins you must be familiar design and ornamentation appointments and the changes that took place in each model throughout the 1800s. Most useful though is the stamp, but you can only use the stamp on the INSIDE of the body on it's center backstrip (visible through the soundhole) to date a guitar. And even then you can only date to a period (and not to an exact date). For example if it says on the center back strip, "C.F. Martin, New York", then the guitar is pre-1867. If it says, "C.F. Martin & Co., New York", it is between 1867 and 1897. Note 1860-1890s Martins have a date (year of manufacture) penciled on the underside of the top. Check with a mirror, looking just below the soundhole and between the braces. 1833-1840s: Paper label "Christian Frederick Martin" or "C.F. Martin". 1836: Some with paper label "Martin & Schatz". 1838: Some with paper label "C.F. Martin and Bruno". 1838: Martin manufacturing moved from New York to Nazareth PA. 1840s: Some with paper label "Martin & Coupa". 1833-1866: Stamp "C.F. Martin, New York" on inside backstrip. 1867-1897: Stamp "C.F. Martin & Co., New York" on incide center backstrip. Yep. No serial number means produced before 1898. Mine has "C.F. Martin & Co., New York" on the inside center backstrip, so its 1867-1897. It also has the same stamp on the neck joint inside the body. I haven't checked for the pencil mark on the underside of the top. This was easier than I thought. I should have known there'd be plenty of data on the internet. Hope y'all learned something here. Thanks for no help. 😉 Edited January 22 by Hoot Owl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoot Owl Posted January 22 Author Members Share Posted January 22 Well, I'll be darned. Handwritten in pencil it says C 1882. 'C' I assume to mean circa. Bingo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted January 22 Moderators Share Posted January 22 I doubt the 'C' was for 'circa'. More likely a builder or final inspector's mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoot Owl Posted January 22 Author Members Share Posted January 22 55 minutes ago, daddymack said: I doubt the 'C' was for 'circa'. More likely a builder or final inspector's mark. I layed in bed this morning wondering about that. And I'm still not sure what 18 means. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted January 22 Moderators Share Posted January 22 original price.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members panhandler Posted January 23 Members Share Posted January 23 (edited) I've always believed "18" signifies mahogany. Edited January 23 by panhandler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted January 24 Moderators Share Posted January 24 On 1/21/2024 at 9:00 PM, Hoot Owl said: Well, I'll be darned. Handwritten in pencil it says C 1882. 'C' I assume to mean circa. Bingo. be careful...in those days, there really was lead in those pencils.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoot Owl Posted January 26 Author Members Share Posted January 26 (edited) On 1/23/2024 at 3:38 PM, panhandler said: I've always believed "18" signifies mahogany. No. It means you won't get arrested if you do. 😜 Edited January 26 by Hoot Owl 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hoot Owl Posted January 26 Author Members Share Posted January 26 On 1/23/2024 at 4:27 PM, daddymack said: be careful...in those days, there really was lead in those pencils.... You should have told me that before I reached my tongue all the way in there to lick it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted February 5 Members Share Posted February 5 I'm not sure what the difference is. I always thought that way back in the day it regarded pricing and only later became a distinguishment between trim levels and tonewood usage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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