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Thread: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

  1. #1
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    Default Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers


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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    If you've got one that has a serial number made after 1981 or so you might want to double check it. The random early ones matched the Mugwumps list, the very last ones did not. One of them has to be wrong.

    The mandolins are on the bottom of this page:
    http://www.mugwumps.com/cfm_date.html

    This list has been floating around the Internet for years.
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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    And Martin mandolin serial numbers can also be found in Mike Longworth's book "Martin Guitars: A History" and the more recent "Martin Guitars: a Technical Reference" by Johnston, Boak, and Longworth. Lots of interesting stuff in both the above books.

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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    My, first edition, copy of Mike Longworth’s book only takes mandolin serial numbers as far as 1973.

    He also lists the small number of Mandocellos produced from 1933-40. Has anyone ever come across one of those?

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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    Quote Originally Posted by Ray(T) View Post
    My, first edition, copy of Mike Longworth’s book only takes mandolin serial numbers as far as 1973.

    He also lists the small number of Mandocellos produced from 1933-40. Has anyone ever come across one of those?

    I have a Martin mandocello in my files that has a 1931 date associated with it...which could be my transcription error, or from the original listing.


    Mick
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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    Martin production records indicate that 4 bowl back 'cellos were built in 1909, two C-2 and three C-1 'cellos were built in 1932, and two additional MC-1's were built in 1935. That's it. The one in Brunello's picture above is probably one of the 1932 C-2 'cellos.

    I've never seen one in person. Longworth's book has an old picture of one of the bowl backs.

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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    Looking again, the figures in the book are a little confusing. Prices are given for the years 1931-1940. Mandocellos are listed for 1941/42 but none is given for the MC-1. It may be a printing error but the table implies that models 15 and 20 were also ‘cellos but I suspect not.

    Looking at production totals, as rcc56 says, 4 were built in 1909, 2 x C-2s in 1932, 3 x MC-1s in 32 and 2 x MC-1s in 1935. So, if Mike alongworth’s research is correct, we have a possible total of only 11 instruments!

    My first edition copy does not have a photo of the bowlbacks and the photo Mick has included is identical to the one in the book which is said to be from 1933.

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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    My mistake. The pic of the bowl back cello isn't in the Longworth book. It's on page 69 of "Martin Guitars" by Jim Washburn and Richard Johnston.

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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    Quote Originally Posted by Ray(T) View Post

    My first edition copy does not have a photo of the bowlbacks and the photo Mick has included is identical to the one in the book which is said to be from 1933.
    Thanks, Ray.

    It looks like I may have saved this photo from an ad here that Charles Johnson might have posted. It looks like his driveway.

    So the ‘31 date might have come from him or I might likely have copied it wrong.

    I wonder if he was checking a SN against the available info at the time?

    I would enjoy seeing a photo of a Martin bowlOcello.

    I have a few bowldolas I play and they require a bit of ergonomic adjustment even at their size.

    It looks like someone is still making a bowlOcello

    Ad says the scale length is ~< 23”.

    Maybe sold by the Horatio Tsai fellow? The price seems remarkable…the shipping equally so.

    Mick
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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    We have a Martin-made "A" type mandolin embossed "Oliver Ditson". When would that have been made for Ditson to market?

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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    Yes, Ditson sold mandolins made by Martin.

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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    Martin made their first instrument for Ditson in 1903. There is not much information on their mandolin production. Most were probably made between the early 1910's and the early 1920's. The majority of instruments made by Martin for Ditson were guitars, which were last made in 1930. They also made some ukeleles for Ditson, but detailed production information does not survive.

    If your instrument is a flat-back A model, it was most likely built between 1914 and perhaps 1925. If the body is 9" wide, it was made between 1914 and 1919. If the body is 9 1/2" wide, it was built between 1919 and sometime in the 1920's.

    Other companies also made mandolins for Ditson, including but not limited to Lyon & Healy.

  15. #13
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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Gochfeld View Post
    We have a Martin-made "A" type mandolin embossed "Oliver Ditson". When would that have been made for Ditson to market?
    Bob, could you post some photos of your Martin / Ditson if you get the time?

    I’d enjoy seeing them as I suppose others would, too.

    I had one some years back that had the approximate specs of a Martin B.

    I recall it fondly.

    Mick
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    Default Re: Guide to Martin mandolin serial numbers

    I will try to get pictures.

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