1901 Martin Guitar (Model 1)

Hi. My Mother recently passed away. I am the Executor of her estate and need to value a Martin Guitar that has been in our family for many years. It was originally purchased by her Father around the turn of the last century. I have a great photo of him as a young man in the Butte Guitar Club--around 1900-1902 holding the new guitar. Attached are a couple of photos. The guitar is in nice shape but obviously has been played over the years. My Mother used to tell me that Grandfather put some sort of a support in the guitar to strengthen it--I can see no evidence of that and am not sure what that's about. An expert that looked at the guitar several years ago said it was not a big deal. There is also what looks to be candle wax on part of the outside. But this is a lovely old guitar (which we are planning on keeping in the family).
I have made the donation as requested, and also read your Submission Agreement--you are welcome to use the photos but please don't put any identifying information about me--I don't want people contacting me about buying the guitar. I would also appreciate any assistance you can give me in preserving this guitar--currently at my cousin's in a controlled area. I hope you find this an interesting one. Call me if you have any questions/comments/need information. Thanks.

ANSWER

Hi, Michael--

Sorry about your Mother. This is a very nice guitar!

The serial number indicates a 1901 manufacture date. I can't really distinguish the exact model from the pictures.

The guitar, as determined by the manufacture date is one of the "Model 1" series. There were, however, several of these Model 1 series guitars produced during 1901.

Model 1-18
Size 1 body, spruce top, rosewood (1899-1917) or mahogany (1917-1927) back and sides, round soundhole with wood colored rope pattern (1899-1902) or three-stripe rosette (1/9/1 grouping between 1902 and 1927), five-ply top binding, single-ply back binding with outer rosewood layer, black backstripe, ebony fingerboard with no inlays (1899-1902) or dot inlays (1902-1927), total production of 964 instruments, mfg. 1899-1927.

1899-1917 Rosewood
Excellent $2,750 - 3,250
Average $1,800 - 2,250

MODEL 1-21
- Size 1 body, spruce top, rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with three-stripe rosette (herringbone ring between two groups of five rings), five-ply top binding with outer rosewood layer, two-ply back binding with outer rosewood layer, herringbone backstripe, ebony fingerboard with slotted diamond inlays, total production of 575 instruments, mfg. 1898-1926.

Excellent $4,000 - 5,000
Average $2,500 - 3,200


MODEL 1-27
- Size 1 body, spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with five-stripe rosette (pearl center ring in four groups of five rings), ivory top binding, green/brown wood diagonal pattern top purfling, three-ply back binding with outer ivory layer, zig-zag backstripe, ebony ivory-bound fingerboard, ivory headstock binding, total production of 13 instruments, mfg. 1898-1907.

Excellent $5,000 - 6,000
Average $3,500 - 4,000

MODEL 1-28
- Size 1 body, spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with three-stripe rosette (5/9/5 grouping), ivory top binding (1898-1918) or ivoroid top binding (1918-1923), herringbone top purfling, three-ply back binding with outer ivory layer (1898-1918) or ivoroid layer (1918-1923), zig-zag backstripe, ebony fingerboard with no inlays (1898-1901) or slotted diamond inlays (1901-1923), total production of 238 instruments, mfg. 1898-1923.

Excellent $5,000 - 6,000
Average $3,500 - 4,000


MODEL 1-30
- Size 1 body, spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with pearl ring rosette, herringbone top purfling, ebony ivory-bound (1898-1918) or ivoroid-bound (1918-1919) fingerboard, ivory-bound (1898-1918) or ivoroid-bound (1918-1919) headstock, total production of 78 instruments, mfg. 1898-1919.

Excellent $5,500 - 6,500
Average $3,600 - 4,200

MODEL 1-34
- Size 1 body, spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with pearl ring rosette, ivory top binding, herringbone top purfling, ivory back binding, ebony ivory-bound fingerboard, ivory-bound headstock, ivory bridge, total production of 11 instruments, mfg. 1898-1904.

**Extreme rarity precludes accurate pricing.


MODEL 1-42
- Size 1 body, spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with pearl ring rosette, pearl top bordering that also goes around the fingerboard, ebony ivory-bound (1898-1918) or ivoroid-bound (1918-1919) fingerboard with snowflake inlays (snowflakes on three frets between 1898 and 1901 and on five frets between 1901 and 1919), ivory-bound (1898-1918) or ivoroid-bound (1918-1919) headstock, ivory (1898-1918) or ebony (1918-19) bridge, total production of 44 instruments, mfg. 1898-1919.

Excellent $11,000 - 14,000
Average $7,000 - 8,500

This is the best I can do even WITH the pics. We really need to determine the exact model if you want an accurate value estimate.

Maybe you can read the above descriptions and match up the characteristics to your guitar. The rosette, binding, and fingerboard material are easily identifiable characteristics.

Lynne