| Already in business for more than one hundred and | | | | merchandise for everything from a case of wine to |
| seventy years, the Martin Guitar Company sells | | | | children's clothing. New York City's teeming Lower |
| acoustic guitars that are considered among the best | | | | East Side was a harsh environment that was a world |
| musical instruments in the world. The company has | | | | apart from the pastoral Saxony where Martin and his |
| continuously managed to thrive in the ever-changing | | | | family grew up. |
| music industry. From the creations of C. F. Martin, Sr. of | | | | In the ensuing years, the company experienced |
| the 1830's to the latest developments introduced by C. | | | | several exciting commercial and technological |
| F. Martin IV, the family-run business has achieved | | | | breakthroughs. Historical records show C.F. Martin and |
| remarkable feats, reflecting six generations of guitar | | | | company selling guitars through high profile retailers in |
| making. C. F. Martin is definitely an indisputable leader in | | | | New York City, and through other busy ports of call. |
| the music industry. | | | | Additionally, guitars showed up along many cities |
| The story behind one of America's most famous | | | | serviced by waterways, as this was prior to the |
| guitars began on January 31, 1796, in Markneukirchen, | | | | railroads crossing the continent. |
| Germany, with the birth of Christian Frederick Martin, | | | | Martin's shipping records made frequent mention of |
| Sr. Born into a long line of cabinet makers, Christian | | | | sales in Boston, Albany, Philadelphia, Richmond, |
| Frederick took up the family craft at the early age of | | | | Petersburg, Nashville, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and New |
| 15, when he left his hometown and traveled to Vienna | | | | Orleans. Business in the period was obviously |
| to apprentice with Johann Stauffer, a renowned guitar | | | | satisfactory, for in an advertisement in 1850 the |
| maker. | | | | company declared, "C. F. Martin Guitar Maker, |
| Accepted business practices in the early days of | | | | respectfully informs the musical public generally that |
| making a Martin guitar were far removed from today's | | | | the great favor bestowed upon him has induced him |
| methods and reflected a simpler society. Barter was | | | | to enlarge his factory, in order to supply the increasing |
| common in the retail trade. C. F. Martin's personal | | | | demand for his instruments. |
| records contain numerous entries of trading musical | | | | |