C. F. Martin Style 40 and 42 Guitars
The Style 40 and Style 42 Martins were first seen as ornate ladies parlor guitars, and so first appeared in ladies sizes, as the $40 2-40 and the $42 2-42. The 1-42 and 0-40 were added soon after, with the 0-42 coming later, and the 00-42 not appearing until quite late. In retrospect, it's interesting that the ornate pearl trim that was reserved for ladies in the mid 19th century would later become an important part of the image of sucessful motion picture Cowboys in the rugged, "Wild West" of the time.
Style 40, 42 and 44 Top Borders and Rosettes
The Style 42 was the top of the Martin line until 1902, distinguished by pearl inlay on all top borders, in the center ring of the rosette, and surrounding the fretboard extension. The top and back, as well as the fingerboard, were bound with genuine Elephant ivory, and the bridge was constructed of genuine ivory, all until 1918 when the ivory pyramid bridge was replaced by an ebony pyramid bridge and the ivory bindings were replaced by grained Celluloid.
1896 Martin 2-42
1894 Martin 0-42
The Style 40 is similar to the Style 42 with the main difference being the lack of pearl surrounding the fretboard extension.
The Style 40 was revived in the 1920's for the Hawaiian 00-40H
Style 40, 42 and 44 Back Strips
This earliest Martin 0-42 have an arrowhead style backstrip of the type seen on the finest Martins of the day.
1894 Martin 0-42
Only slightly later we begin to see Style 42 Martins with early variations of the same backstrip design as was used on Style 45 Martins from the time they were first introduced.
c.1896 Martin 2 1/2 - 42
1902 Martin 00-42S
1922 Martin Wurlitzer 0-42 / 2092
The 00-40H also has a backstrip of the same design as those used on Style 45 Martins.
1934 Martin 00-40H
The Style 44, made exclusively for the teacher Vadah Olcott-Bickford was designed at her request to be made from materials of as high quality as possible, but without ostentation, so the backstrip is comprised of straight lines of natural wood.
1921 Martin Olcott-Bickford 0-44
Style 40, 42 and 44 Fretboard Inlays
Even the ornate Style 42 Martin guitar had no inlays on the fretboard until the late 1890's, when Martin added a single "snowflake" inlay on three frets.
By 1901, Martin had expanded the inlays to the fifth, seventh, ninth, twelth, and fifteenth frets.
The Style 40 has similar inlays on the inlays on the fifth, seventh, ninth, twelth, and fifteenth frets.
C. F. Martin Style 42 Guitar
C.F. Martin 1894 0-42
Beautiful original condition style 42. At the time, this was the top of the Martin line.
Tuning pegs, pyramid style bridge, nut, saddle, top and back body binding, and fingerboard binding all made of ivory. An abalone pearl border is inlaid on the top of the guitar. An additonal connecting link of pearl is inlaid around the end of the fingerboard, and abalone is also inlaid into the soundhole ring, as well as the ivory bridge pins, end pin, and button on the back of the headstock. Beautiful wood marquetry with arrow design in backstripe. The back and sides are French Polished Brazilian Rosewood, the top is red spruce, and the fingerboard is simple ebony, without inlays, as was customary at the time. Dove tail joined headstock and neck with volute. Scalloped X style braces.
Serial numbers were not given to Martin guitars until 1898. The date 1894 is handwrtitten on the underside of the top. "C. F. Martin & Co. New York" is stamped inside the guitar on the neck block and on the center strip inside the back. "C. F. Martin & Co. Nazareth, PA" is stamped on the back of the headstock.
This guitar is illustrated in "The Martin Book: A Complete History of Martin Guitars" by Walter Carter, as well as the book "Martin Guitars: An Ilustrated Celebration of America's Premier Guitarmaker" by Jim Washburn and Richard Johnston.
Carter p. 6
Carter p. 25
(0-42 Mislabeled as 2-42)
Washburn & Johnston p. 61
Chinery "History of the American Guitar" p. 15
(0-42 mislabeled as 1-42)
C.F. Martin 1896 Size 2 Style 42 Guitar
This beautiful, almost pefect looking original style 42 was made at the time the style was the top of the Martin line, and most likely the first year Martin adorned their guitars with pearl inlays on the frets.
Tuning pegs, pyramid style bridge, nut, saddle, top and back body binding, and fingerboard binding all made of ivory. An abalone pearl border is inlaid on the top of the guitar. An additonal connecting link of pearl is inlaid around the end of the fingerboard, and abalone is also inlaid into the soundhole ring, as well as the ivory bridge pins. End pin, and button on the back of the headstock are made of buffalo horn. Beautiful wood marquetry of 45 style design in backstripe. The back and sides are French Polished Brazilian Rosewood, the top is red spruce, and the fingerboard is ebony, with three simple early style inlays, a snowflake, a ten pointed star, and an eight pointed star. Dove tail joined headstock and neck with volute. Scalloped X style braces.
Serial numbers were not given to Martin guitars until 1898. "C. F. Martin & Co. New York" is stamped inside the guitar on the neck block and on the center strip inside the back. "C. F. Martin, New York" is stamped on the back of the headstock.
C.F. Martin/Wurlitzer 1922 2092 / 0-42
The Martin Style 42 also appeared as the Wurlitzer 2092, made for the Wurlitzer stores.
Beautiful original condition style 42 made for the Wurlitzer Company and sold as the Wurlitzer model number 2092.
One of only 11 made in this style for the Wurlitzer Company
Tuning pegs, nut, saddle, top and back body binding, and fingerboard binding all made of ivory. An abalone pearl border is inlaid on the top of the guitar. An additonal connecting link of pearl is inlaid around the end of the fingerboard, and abalone is also inlaid into the soundhole ring, as well as the ivory bridge pins, and end pin. Beautiful 45 style marquetry in backstripe. The back and sides are French Polished Brazilian Rosewood, the top is red spruce, and the fingerboard is ebony, with Martin style 42 fancy inlays. Dove tail joined headstock and neck with volute. Scalloped X style braces. The pyramid style bridge is a perfect replica of the original, with improved intonation, made by TJ Thompson to replace an earlier oversized replacemement.
Serial number 17128. "C. F. Martin & Co. Nazareth, PA" is stamped inside the guitar on the center strip inside the back. The name "Wurlitzer" is stamped on the back of the headstock above "C. F. Martin & Co. Nazareth, PA" .
C. F. Martin Style 40 Guitar
The style 40, first seen in the mid nineteenth century, has an abalone pearl border inlaid on the top of the guitar and into the soundhole ring, but not around the fretboard extension as on a Style 42.
45 style wood marquetry in backstripe. Back and sides of Brazilian Rosewood, with top of red spruce, and fingerboard in ebony with abalone inlays.
C.F. Martin 1896 0-40
The early Style 40 had perhaps the most beautiful tuners, in silver with pearl buttons, on any Martin guitar.
C.F. Martin 1934 00-40H
Here are two of the 12 made in 1934.
Serial number 56430
From Vintage Instruments:
MARTIN, 00-40H, 1934, 12-fret, slotted-head, nicely converted to standard playing, set-up & new bridge by T.J.Thompson, bar-frets, open Grover G-98s with butterbean knobs, 1-7/8"width at nut, the back & sides are nearly perfect but there are 2 repaired hairline top cracks & some light overspray below the bridge, otherwise excellent condition, later "Geib"hard case, converted 00-40H Martins are always big full sounding guitars & this one is better than most, (Our #25395)
Excellent original condition aside from conversion from original Hawaiian style, and touch up of finish around bridge, by TJ Thompson.
Number 56430 with 56433
C.F. Martin 1913 Foden Special Style E
The Foden Special was an 0 Size Martin combining elements of Style 40, 42, and 45 guitars, made for the teacher William Foden.
One of 9 made in this style.
This rare model combined the pearl back and side borders of a Style 45 with pearl on the face of the guitar on the rosette and top border only, as on a Style 40, without the pearl surrounding the fretboard extension. The fretboard inlays are more similar to a style 42 Martin.
vintagemartin.com
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