Martin Guitars part 2
The Martin Guitar factory on the corner of Main and North Streets is still in use at present as a warehouse for strings and accessories.
In 1888 the then owner C.F. Martin Jr died leaving a very young 22 year to run the business.
Frank Henry Martin was C.F.s son. And one of the first things he did was break the connection between the Martin factory and their sole distributors, C. A. Zoebisch & Sons.
He did this as their distributor's main business was in orchetral instruments. Frank Henry was uncertain of their commitment to the guitar as a serious instrument. He was also disappointed by their reluctance to test the market with new instruments. At that time he wanted to start producing Mandolins.
The Mandolin was gaining popularity with a massive influx of immigrants from Italy and Frank Henry wanted Martin to supply the demand for it.
As soon as they started to distribute their own products the sales of Mandolins took off. In that year they produced a total of 113 instruments. The previous year had seen a total of 3 built.
This doesn't sound a lot until you hear the figures for guitars at that time. The yearly output for Martin Guitars was 220 units per year. This shows that Mandolins quickly paid their way within the Martin fraternity.
Frank Martin made most of the sales to dealers in the New York area supplemented by media advertisements.
In 1912 Frank Henry decided to send his oldest son, Christian Frederick Martin III, to Princeton university, followed the next year by his youngest son, Herbert Keller Martin.
Christian Frederick returned home after graduation to temporarily make guitars to help his father out before making his own way in the world. Or so he thought. He stayed and spent the rest of his life devoted to guitar production.
As with the Mandolin the Martin family jumped on the Ukulele band wagon in the 1920's. Guitar production in 1920 totalled 1361 units while Ukulele numbers were thought to be double this, as no records of their numbers were kept.
By 1928 guitar output at the Martin production facility was up to 5215 units.
Martin Guitars Major Design Developments
The Depression had hit America and the sale of guitars during 1929 to 1931 was halved.
The workers at the Martin factory had to accept reduced wages and a three day working week for a while.
New products were introduced to try and stimulate some demand for products and the company even tried making wooden jewellery to boost flagging sales.
Old product lines were given facelifts, design and product development was given voice. And while many of the changes had short lives two still exist to this day.
The Dreadnought guitar and the fourteen fret neck.
