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Thread: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

  1. #1

    Default Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    According to UMGF member and Martin expert hutton99, mandolin serial number 7272 was stamped about January 16, 1920 and was shipped to Henry Spahr in Jersey City, NJ on February 20, 1920. I wonder where it went during all those years before I acquired it about 15 years ago.

    Here's my well worn but still beautiful style A centenarian:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Roger

    1920 Martin Style A
    1924 Gibson A2Z "Snakehead"
    Don MacRostie designed Stuart MacDonald A-style kit I built myself.
    2022 Kentucky KM-1000B
    Plus guitars - lots of guitars
    Two banjos, a fiddle, and a tiple

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  3. #2
    Registered User
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    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    I am wondering how it sounds.

  4. #3

    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    Light, chime-like. I use it in our Celtic sessions here. A classical player would like it, too. Not Gibson-like at all. A much more delicate sound.
    Roger

    1920 Martin Style A
    1924 Gibson A2Z "Snakehead"
    Don MacRostie designed Stuart MacDonald A-style kit I built myself.
    2022 Kentucky KM-1000B
    Plus guitars - lots of guitars
    Two banjos, a fiddle, and a tiple

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  6. #4
    Barn Cat Mandolins Bob Clark's Avatar
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    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    Congratulations Roger, it is a wonderful instrument. You are a very lucky guy!
    Purr more, hiss less. Barn Cat Mandolins Photo Album

  7. #5
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    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    Lovely! It shouldn't be hard to find a replacement "cloud"-style tailpiece cover, if you want one.

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  9. #6

    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    Quote Originally Posted by rickbella View Post
    Lovely! It shouldn't be hard to find a replacement "cloud"-style tailpiece cover, if you want one.
    I did actually find one at Gryphon. I need to take some new photos.
    Roger

    1920 Martin Style A
    1924 Gibson A2Z "Snakehead"
    Don MacRostie designed Stuart MacDonald A-style kit I built myself.
    2022 Kentucky KM-1000B
    Plus guitars - lots of guitars
    Two banjos, a fiddle, and a tiple

  10. #7
    ForestF5 Gene Summers's Avatar
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    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    That's a beautiful old Martin, It looks like it has been well taken care of. Here's to another 100 years of music making. Enjoy the history and vibe!
    Kentucky KM-1050 2021
    Pava Satin A 2018 #272
    Gibson A 1916 #25861 FON 2626

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  12. #8
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    My 1919 Style A says "hi" to its younger sibling.
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

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  14. #9
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    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    My 1974 Style A says “ Happy Birthday Grandpa”!
    Don

    2016 Weber Custom Bitterroot F
    2011 Weber Bitterroot A
    1974 Martin Style A

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  16. #10
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    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    As does my 1974 Style A!
    Chuck

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  18. #11
    Registered User djeffcoat's Avatar
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    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    My 1975 lefty A model also says Happy Birthday!

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  20. #12
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    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    Happy Birthday dad from my '57
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

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  22. #13

    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    Roger- you should post a video playing it! So much stuff on Gobson’s, nice to see a Martin once in a while!! Jan

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  24. #14
    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    I recently toured the Martin Factory. Something I would recommend everyone do. I saved a lot of money in that I don't play guitar. But wow.

    In the museum they have a bunch of Martin mandolins, and I came away wishing that Martin did make mandolins today.
    A talent for trivializin' the momentous and complicatin' the obvious.

    The entire staff
    funny....

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  26. #15

    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    Quote Originally Posted by Cotatigirl View Post
    Roger- you should post a video playing it! So much stuff on Gobson’s, nice to see a Martin once in a while!! Jan
    Yes. I should. I'll work on that.

    And I love your misprint - Gobsons. I will refer to them as Gobsons from now on.
    Roger

    1920 Martin Style A
    1924 Gibson A2Z "Snakehead"
    Don MacRostie designed Stuart MacDonald A-style kit I built myself.
    2022 Kentucky KM-1000B
    Plus guitars - lots of guitars
    Two banjos, a fiddle, and a tiple

  27. #16

    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    Great to see a little Martin Mandolin love on here.
    My '29 style B is a bit of a snob, and doesn't have anything to say, but the '59 style A says HBD gramps, as do the c.1925 style 1 uke, and the c.1929 style 0 uke (both my grand-dad's) and the c. 1930 1T tenor uke with the best narrow neck ever.
    enjoy!

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  29. #17

    Default Re: Happy 100th Birthday 1920 Martin Style A

    Quote Originally Posted by fifths View Post
    Great to see a little Martin Mandolin love on here.
    My '29 style B is a bit of a snob, and doesn't have anything to say, but the '59 style A says HBD gramps, as do the c.1925 style 1 uke, and the c.1929 style 0 uke (both my grand-dad's) and the c. 1930 1T tenor uke with the best narrow neck ever.
    enjoy!
    Thanks, and since you raise the subject of Martin ukes, here's my late 30s Style 1.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Roger

    1920 Martin Style A
    1924 Gibson A2Z "Snakehead"
    Don MacRostie designed Stuart MacDonald A-style kit I built myself.
    2022 Kentucky KM-1000B
    Plus guitars - lots of guitars
    Two banjos, a fiddle, and a tiple

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