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. 😉