Lehigh University photo archive (C.F. Martin etc)

[Martin Jonas]

I've just come across the photo archive of Lehigh University Library in Bethlehem, PA. There are 283 music-related photos, mostly associated in some way with the Martin Guitar company in nearby Nazareth. All in ultra-high resolution zoomable scans.

Obviously, most are guitar-related, but there are a fair few mandolin photos as well, including several catalogue scans and some photos of Zarh Myron Bickford and Vahdah Olcott-Bickford.

Link to the collection

A few that I found interesting:

Martin G-3 bowlback from 1896 catalogue

Zarh & Vahdah Bickford

Vahdah Olcott-Bickford

Martin Style E mandolin from 1915 Catalogue

1918 price list

Style A mandolin 1919

Style C mandolin 1919

Style A Koa 1921

American Guitar Society 1928, with Zarh & Vahdah Bickford

Style 20 carved mandolin, 1929

Shop display window at Lyon & Healy in Chicago, 1934 (with L&H mandolin and Martin guitars)

Martin

[Martin Jonas]

Shop display window at Lyon & Healy in Chicago, 1934 (with L&H mandolin and Martin guitars)

Looking at it again, I think it's actually a Martin carved two-point mandolin, not L&H. The instruments are all by Martin, just the shop window is at the Lyon & Healy store. Neat reflection of neon advertising in the top right corner. Cool picture altogether!

Martin

[Charles E.]

Thanks Martin for the links! Man, in the American Guitar Society pic, no one looks happy.

[brunello97]

Looking at it again, I think it's actually a Martin carved two-point mandolin, not L&H. The instruments are all by Martin, just the shop window is at the Lyon & Healy store. Neat reflection of neon advertising in the top right corner. Cool picture altogether!

Martin

Yep, that's a Martin, Martin. Cool pix, all. What do you think Zahr Bickford has there in that first photo?

Love to see Martin mandolins getting their props. Too long in the shadows and the dreaded "good for X but not for Y."

Great mandolins. Playing mine always makes me very happy.

Mick

[Martin Jonas]

What do you think Zahr Bickford has there in that first photo?

I would think that's a Lyon & Healy/Washburn two-point mandocello, similar to this one:



You can see Bickford's hand cradling the headstock scroll.

There's also a second photo from the same session at Gregg Miner's site:



Martin

[MikeEdgerton]

Closeup. I'll take a dozen at that price.

[brunello97]

....You can see Bickford's hand cradling the headstock scroll....

Got it, now. Thanks!

Mick