Christian Frederick Martin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Christian Frederick Martin, Sr. (German: Christian Friedrich Martin I.; January 31, 1796 – February 16, 1873) was a luthier who specialized in guitars.
Born in Markneukirchen, Germany to a family of cabinet makers, Martin became an apprentice of the guitar maker Johann Stauffer of Vienna, Austria.[1]
As a result of a dispute between the Cabinet Makers Guild, of which Martin was a member, and the Violin Makers Guild, Martin moved to the United States in 1833. Martin started his first guitar shop in New York City on the Lower East Side. This shop was the forerunner of C. F. Martin & Company, which is still family owned and operated as of 2007.
At the insistance of his wife, Ottilie Lucia Kühler (daughter of well-known guitarmaker Karl Kühler of Vienna, Martin moved the guitar shop in 1838 to Nazareth, Pennsylvania where it is still located.[2]
Martin's guitar construction and design innovations produced a model of flattop guitar that is still in use today.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ C.F Martin & Company. Our Story - Chapter 1: The C.F. Martin Story. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
- ^ Smithsonian.org. Special, Music, Industry, History -- Martin Guitar Company. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
- ^ FieldTrip.com. C.F. Martin, Sr.. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
