Christian Frederick Martin
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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. On arriving in New York City , he set up shop at 196 Hudson Street on the Lower West Side. Martin’s first workshop housed a small production setup in the back room, and a retail music store up front. This shop was the forerunner of C. F. Martin & Company, which is still family-owned and operated, whose current CEO is CF Martin's great-great-great grandson, CF Martin IV as of 2007.
At the insistence 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.
- ^ Fieldtrip.com. Special, Music, Industry, History -- Martin Guitar Company. Retrieved on 2006-11-04.
- ^ Invention.Smithsonian.org. C.F. Martin, Sr.. Retrieved on 2007-10-10.
