Soprano ukulele
Maker
C. F. Martin & Co.
Date1934-1947 ca.
Place MadeNazareth, Pennsylvania, United States, North America
ModelStyle O
Serial No.none
SignedBranded on inside of back above upper brace: [lettering curved downward at each end] C.F.MARTIN & Co / — ∙ — / NAZARETH, PA.Gold and black decal on head: [lettering curved downward at each end] CFMartin&Co. [sic] / EST. 1833
DescriptionMartin was one of the earliest continental ukulele manufacturers and its instruments are still valued for their fine tone and workmanship. Martin's first few ukuleles were made in 1907, but by 1916, large-scale production had begun. Demand skyrocketed and the North Street factory was expanded in 1917, 1924, and 1925 to accommodate the flood of orders. The Style 0 ukulele, Martin’s simplest model, was introduced in 1922. By the time this example was made in the 1930s or 1940s, Martin’s production had fallen back drastically. The presence of the smaller Martin decal on the headstock, redesigned to be proportionally correct for ukuleles, along with the metal and plastic tension tuners, suggest a dating between 1934 and 1947, with the exclusion of a few years during WWII, when plain pegs were used.
Stringing: four gut strings
Soundboard: one-piece mahogany
Back: one-piece mahogany
Ribs: two-piece mahogany
Head: mahogany; integral with neck; shield-shaped upper end
Neck: mahogany; integral with head; neck heel is separate piece
Heel cap: integral with back
Binding: none
Fretboard: rosewood; 12 nickel-silver bar frets; small ivoroid dots behind 5th, 7th, and 10th frets
Nut: ebony
Bridge: mahogany; ebony saddle; strings fit in notches on lower edge
Tuners: nickel-plated steel tension pegs with black plastic heads
Rosette: black-white-black-white-black five-ply celluloid strips set in from edge, the inner three strips wider
Finish: clear; later
Linings: kerfed mahogany
Neck block: mahogany; beveled corners; circular saw marks visible on face
End block: mahogany; narrow
Top braces: two spruce transverse braces with tapered ends above and below soundhole; wide mahogany bridge plate
Back braces: two spruce transverse braces, one each at center and lower bouts
DimensionsTotal ukulele length: 529 mm (20-13/16″)
Back length: 239 mm (9-13/32″)
Upper bout width: 126 mm (4-15/16″)
Waist width: 102 mm (4″)
Lower bout width: 163 mm (6-13/32″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 51 mm (2″)
Rib height, at waist: 58 mm (2-9/32″)
Rib height, at end block: 57 mm (2-1/4″)
Head length: 120 mm (4-23/32″)
Head width, top: 61 mm (2-13/32″)
Head width, bottom: 48 mm (1-29/32″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 175 mm (6-29/32″)
Neck width, nut: 35 mm (1-3/8″)
Neck width, heel: 46 mm (1-25/32″)
Soundhole diameter: 44 mm (1-23/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 347 mm (13-21/32″)
Credit LineGeoffrey Robert Rezek Collection, 2008
Object number14358
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