Soprano ukulele
Maker
C. F. Martin & Co.
Date1923-1930 ca.
Place MadeNazareth, Pennsylvania, United States, North America
ModelStyle 2
SignedBranded back of head and on inside of back above upper brace: [lettering curved downward at each end]: C.F.MARTIN & Co / — · — / NAZARETH, PA.DescriptionStringing: four gut strings
Soundboard: one-piece mahogany
Back: one-piece mahogany; band saw marks visible on inside of back
Ribs: two-piece mahogany
Head: mahogany; integral with neck; shield-shaped upper end
Neck: mahogany; integral with head
Heel cap: none
Binding: ivory celluloid; ivory and black celluloid strip trim on top
Fretboard: rosewood; 12 nickel-silver bar frets; small ivoroid dots behind 5th and 10th frets; two small ivoroid dots behind 7th fret
Nut: ebony
Bridge: mahogany; ebony saddle; strings fit in notches on lower edge
Tuners: nickel-plated brass tension pegs with ivoroid heads
Rosette: five-ply black and light hardwood strips set in from edge
Finish: clear
Linings: kerfed mahogany
Neck block: mahogany; beveled corners; circular saw marks visible on face
End block: dark hardwood; beveled corners
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: 530 mm (20-7/16″)
Back length: 239 mm (9-13/32″)
Upper bout width: 125 mm (4-29/32″)
Waist width: 100 mm (3-15/16″)
Lower bout width: 159 mm (6-1/4″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 51 mm (2″)
Rib height, at waist: 56 mm (2-3/16″)
Rib height, at end block: 59 mm (2-5/16″)
Head length: 115 mm (4-17/32″)
Head width, top: 59 mm (2-5/16″)
Head width, bottom: 49 mm (1-15/16″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 175 mm (6-7/8″)
Neck width, nut: 36 mm (1-13/32″)
Neck width, heel: 46 mm (1-13/16″)
Soundhole diameter: 44 mm (1-23/32″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): 348 mm (13-11/16″)
Published ReferencesSilva, Ana Sofia. "Digging the Fifties: A Curatorial Perspective on 50 Objects from the NMM Collections." NMM Notes (October 2023): 27-28.
Credit LineGeoffrey Robert Rezek Collection, 2014
Object number14950
On View
On view
