Letters from Justin Holland and J. M. Holland to C. F. Martin, 1868-1897
The letters below are transcribed from both handwritten and typewritten letters sent from Justin Holland and his son J. M. Holland to C. F. Martin over the years 1868 to 1896. Twelve letters written by Justin Holland are from 1868 to 1884 and thirty-five from his son are from 1887 to 1897. The letters are located in the C. F. Martin & Co. Archives. Many thanks to Jason Ahner, Archives & Museum Manager, for permission to publish the transcriptions.


Justin Holland
December 29, 1868
Cleveland Decr. 29th 1868
C. F. Martin Esqr
Dr. Sir The Guitar arrived last yesterday safe & satisfactory. I found Mr. Ruetenik’s residence & paid Miss Martin the amount as per order
Very Respectfully & truly yours
Justin Holland
March 6, 1869
Cleveland O. March 6th, 1869
C. F. Martin Jr. Esqr.
Sir, I want a guitar for a very fastigious [sic] young lady who is withal a very good scholar. Her ideas of what she wants, as near as I can give them to you are about as follows. The instrument must be of the blackest rosewood the head must have the ivory pegs & the instrument must have the ivory trimming corresponding to a (2-27) in your list – viz body & neck ivory bound, and approach as near in size to a (1-21) as you make for ladies’ use. She would prefer a total absence of pearl trimming, says it looks “Dutchy” but would not refuse it if it has pearl, likes the plain trimming around the rosette of a 1-21 better than pearl, if it must have pearl, select a good one with the pearl ring as narrow as may be, and with the inlaying around the rim next to the ivory band very narrow.
I believe I have touched upon all the points to whcih she has referred. The price must not exceed that of a 2-27 as pr list, or at most $60, please send as soon as possible & inform me by mail &c.
A gentleman wishes me to enquire what would be the cost of two or more sets of ivory pegs (pegs alone without heads)
Very respectfully
Justin Holland
304 Cedar Avenue
March 18, 1869
Cleveland, O. March 18th ’69
C. F. Martin Esqr.
Dr Sir, I saw yesterday the Lady for whom I desired an instrument of your make, I related to her in the simplest manner the cause of my failure with out endeavoring to prejudice her mind in any direction for I wanted her to have one of yours, I was willing to sacrifice in some degree my own feelings I offered to meet her at the store of S. B. & Sons & aid her in giving a description of such an instrument as she wanted for I knew they had none such on hand, I would not propose to order it myself, nor do I propose to attempt to enter upon any understanding with them upon the subject of obtaining guitars. The lady took time to consult her father who is a “Square” man and one of our oldest & most prominent citizens connected with the Grinnells & Minturns of New York. He saw me to day & was very indignant at the idea of being forced to deal with anybody whether he wanted to or not. While neither he nor I find any fault with you, he thinks you have been over reached & that in a city of over 70,000 inhabitants with five music stores in successful operation besides others that sell instruments exclusively the public would be better served & at fairer rates, the instruments become better known & far more sold by free trade & competition than to allow one to monopolize who takes little pains to bring them to the notice of all. He said that he would not have an instrument through them at any price. I urged upon him the superior quality of your instruments . He tells me to say to you to make, if you will, the instrument, send your bill to me before you begin it if you chose to do so, & it will be paid, sent to you by express at once or P.O. order, or paid immediately to your order. When the instrument is done inclose it as usual & direct by express to
Mrs. N. H. Hilliard,
St. Nicholas Hotel, New York City
Your accountability for the instrument will cease on its delivery to Mrs. Hilliard as directed. If spoken of at all it will be, as having been obtained in New York. You will please let me know as the earliest moment of you can send it, for they were in a hurry for it & failing will send to New York for the next best that they can get. The description I place upon a separate paper. I do not wish you to understand that I shall not promote the sale of your instruments, only when it is left entirely to me to procure one I do not feel like doing it through the forenamed parties, at present I know that, with what I have had from you, & what I have bought up from other parties here outside of the music store & sold again with the two orders I have on hand I have sold more make a larger city trade in your guitars than has been done in the stores here this winter. Hoping to hear from you in a few days I am truly [??]
Yours
Justin Holland
Description of Guitar for to be sent to Mrs.
N. H. Hilliard
St. Nicholas Hotel
New York City
A 2-27 guitar with ivory peg head. The usual ivory bindings. No pearl about it, ivory on the sides of neck, around the face next to the ivory binding leave out the checkered work & insert a find strips more like those in a 1-21 guitar, also around the rosette omit the pearl & insert fine wood work after the style of that in a 1-21. The trimming may be as fine & as nice as you please only omit the pearl, & checkered work around the edge. Substitue fine wood work, in place – let the body of be of the Black kind of rosewood.
March 23, 1869
Cleveland O March 23d 1869
C. F. Martin Jr. Esqr.
Dr. Sir yours of 19th inst is rec’d please accept my thanks for your arrangement. I wish it could have been made years ago but I never could get any satisfactory information here concerning yourself or the classification of your instruments. Every thing seemed to say, “here are Martin Guitars, if you want one take it, if there is not such a one as you want we will order it on satisfactory assurance that you will take it at our prices.”
A large portion of my pupils have guitars before they get their teacher and only the well to do feel like getting high priced instruments, when ever I can command an order I shall send it with much pleasure. The instrument you are making – if you have not shipped it when you receive this have it sent to me through Mr. Weber instead of its going to New York. You know my address – & if Mr. Weber is to remark it you will instruct him about that also.
With many thanks I remain truly yours
Justin Holland
September 17, 1869
Cleveland O. Sept 17th 1869.
C. F. Martin Esqr.
Sir, I desire a good 1-21 guitar (ivory pegs) of good tone & solid touch – It is intended for a lady’s use. Send at your earliest convenience and inform notify me by mail care of A. Close Cor of Superior & Mich Sts. Cleveland O. The season has been unprecedentedly dull for the guitar. In a short conversation with Mr. Joseph Brainard lately, he said that the firm had not sold in the city a Martin Guitar, or one of like price for a year. Very respectfully yours truly
Justin Holland
P.S. I shall send this via Phila.
October 21, 1869
Cleveland O. Oct. 21st 1869
C. F. Martin Esqr.
Dr Sir enclosed I send you a draft for $36.00 on Farmer, Hatch & Co – New York – I rec’d your last note on tuesday. The guitar has not yet arrived, I was expecting it to come C.O.D. and it did not occur to my mind until today that possibly it might be detained waiting for this draft. Either way is equally satisfactory. I shall take great pleasure in preparing a few pieces of music for Miss Martin & will send them in a few days.
Very respectfully & truly yours
Justin Holland
September 7, 1870
Cleveland O Sept 7th 1870
C. F. Martin Esqr
Dr. Sir
Please send me a good 1-21 guitar with ivory peg head, strings set moderately too.
On hearing from you I will send immediately a draft on N.Y. for the amount, or you may C.O.D. as you chose.
Respectfully & truly yours
Justin Holland
304 Cedar Avenue
P.S. I have mislaid Mr. Weber’s address
J. H.
April 5, 1875
Cleveland O. Apr. 5 1875
C. F. Martin Esq.
Dr. Sir – it occurs to me that I gave you wrong directions in my last as I wrote in a hurry. It should be
S. H. Shannon, No. 7 Heard’s Block
Euclid Av. cor. of Sheriff St.
Cleveland O.
I think I wrote Prospect St. instead of Euclid Av.
Respectfully &c.
Justin Holland
5. Webster St.
April 14, 1882
Cleveland, O. Ap. 14 ’82
C. F. Martin & Co.
Sirs, I herein send in stampls 55 cents for 2 sets of frets, or wire enough for 2 sets, the 5 cents are for postage, as I suppose it can be sent by mail.
You will please send the kind you use in your guitars – such as you would put in size for ladies. There is a man here who is a good workman & can set them in well. Respectfully &c.
Justin Holland
303 Euclid Ave.
May 11, 1882
Cleveland, O. May 11, 1882
C. F. Martin & Co.
Gentlemen, I wish to know what are the best terms, as to price, you can give me on a guitar next to the concert size. I have not now your circular & cannot give the numbers of the guitars but of course you know, when I say next to the concert size. I wish to know both as to the ivory bound & those without the ivory. Som years back I was occasionally sending to your firm for guitars but went South some four years or so ago. I am again here & may again want a guitar once in a while. I can not speak now with certainty but I think the last few guitars I got you allowed 25%, of course I desire the best terms you can give. If I send I shall be ready to pay C.O.D. or to send you a draft for the amount as I did formerly. Sometimes the guitars had to be made after being sent for – that would do, if you should not have such a one as I might want.
Please let me know at once
Respectfully &c.
Justin Holland
308 Euclid Ave.
September 15, 1884
Cleveland, O. Sept. 15, 1884
C. F. Martin & Co.
Gents, please send me a finished ivory peg guitar head, of the style & size used on your best ivory bound concert guitars. It is to replace a screw-head on a concert guitar of your make. Inform me of price at some time & I will remit. Send it as early as convenient.
The last guitar you sent gave the highest satisfaction.
There has been organized a guitar club for practicing the best class of guitar music – They all have Martin guitars and are getting along very well.
Respectfully &c.
Justin Holland
8 Euclid Av.
J. M. Holland
October 6, 1887
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, October 6th, 1887.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
I wish to get a duplicate of the 5/20 terz guitar, ivory pegs, plain finish, full tone and easy touch, which you billed to my Father one year ago today. I would prefer the dark instead of the light sounding board.
The guitar I refer to was billed to Father at $29.40, but as I am getting this to fill an order, and not for my own use, I calculate that it will cost me $31.50. Please inform me whether such is the case, and about the time that you will be able to fill the order; I will then send you New York draft before time for completion of the instrument, and give you directions for shipping. I want a good peg-head instrument, and you are at liberty to use your own judgment as to what is best to accomplish the result desired.
Very respectfully,
Justin M. Holland,
P. O. Box 1905,
New Orleans, La.
November 30, 1887
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, November 30th, 1887.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
I enclose herewith your bill of the 24th instant, amounting to thirty-one and 50-100 dollars ($31.50), for one 5/20 Terz Guitar, and money order # 45275 for similar amount in payment thereof. Please receipt bill and return same to me.
You will please ship the Terz by express to Mr. L. H. Prescott, No. 118 South Perry Street, Cleveland, Ohio.
I should like very much to try some of your strings, and with that end in view would ask you to send me one dozen of each, with prices to teachers and also to dealers, and I will try to work up some orders for you. Send bill for strings with same, and I will remit immediately on receipt.
My father’s old guitar will be sent within a few days, and you will please put it in thorough order. If the commission to my credit on the Santchi guitar does not cover the expense, please advise me and I will remit balance.
Very truly yours,
J. M. HOLLAND,
P. O. Box 1905,
December 10, 1887
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, December 10th, 1887.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
Yours of the 6th instant is at hand. I am sorry that the mistake was made as to the shipment of the instrument, but, on account of the delay to my friend in Cleveland, have concluded to send it on to him, instead of trying to dispose of it here, and having you make another one for him. I therefore shipped it to him today, and he will receive it Monday morning. There is not much demand for small guitars here. I hope to have another order for a large guitar within a short time, and will advise you as to the style.
The extra expense which you offer to refund to me I will take out in trade. I am patiently awaiting the arrival of the strings as there are no really good strings sold by the dealers here.
My father’s guitar will be shipped to you Monday, and you will please put it in first class order in every respect, and return it with bill at your leisure. It has received rough usage, as he allowed his pupils to take lessons on it.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland,
P. O. Box 1905.
December 20, 1887
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, December 20th, 1887.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
The strings mentioned in your letter of the 6th instant have not yet come to hand. Will you please send one dozen each of the wire Strings for terz to Mr. L. H. Prescott, 118 South
Perry Street, Cleveland, Ohio, and send bill to me.
I am writing a series of articles of interest to guitarists to be published in a monthly musical magazine, and as all guitarists are naturally interested in the factory of the best guitars in the world, I should like something relative to your establishment. Will you send the data, such as how long you have been in business, the size of the factory, and the number of instruments annually turned out, a description of the different styles, the number of men employed, and a description of the process of making your justly celebrated instruments? I wish to have as complete an article as possible, and hope that you will furnish the material necessary for the article. Please hurry up strings.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland,
Custom House, New Orleans, La.
February 1, 1888
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, February 1st, 1888.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
After having given your strings a thorough trial, I am glad to say that they are the best that I have yet used. I want to recommend them to my friends throughout the country, and write to ask the price at which you will supply them to teachers and others, post-paid, by registered mail.
December 14th, last, I sent by express the guitar belonging to my late father, and of which I had previously written. Have you been able to do anything towards repairing it? If so, when will it be done, and what will be the bill. We will settle accounts for that and the strings at the same time. I have two friends who are thinking of ordering instruments, and hope at an
early date to have the pleasure of forwarding their orders. Where do you obtain your gut strings, and at what price can you supply an extra article?
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland,
P. O. Box 1905,
New Orleans, La.
May 29, 1888
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, May 29th, 1888.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
About two months ago I received a letter stating that you would ship my father’s guitar in about two weeks from that time. You will remember that it was sent to you last December for repairs. I have since inquired several times at the express office, but have not been able to find any trace of it. Please inform me whether it has been shipped, and by what company.
I have a credit with you for guitar sent to Indiana, the commission on which amounted to upwards of $13.00; please send account, charging me for strings (6 dozen, $5.24) and for repairs to the guitar, and credit me with the commission above referred to. I will then remit immediately whatever balance there may be due you. I would be obliged if you will send me a few more circulars, as I like to be able, when writing to guitarists, to enclose one of the Martin price-lists.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland,
P. O. Box 1905,
New Orleans, La.
June 26, 1888
New Orleans, La., June 26th, 1888.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Penn.
Gentlemen:
The guitar arrived all right a few days ago, and the bill and price lists later. The bill is much less than I anticipated, for which please accept my thanks. In a great measure I am pleased with the job, but if I had seen it before you shipped it I would have had the pegs refitted to the holes, and the slight defect in the nut remedied. The nut has a piece “chipped out” at the edge of the groove through which the second string passes, and the pegs are hardly long enough above the head to allow sufficient space for winding the strings. But as I shall not use the guitar very much this does not matter, but I shall expect you to look well after an 0/21, which I shall order for my own use as soon as I can spare the money. I want this to be the very best in workmanship and tone that you can make. I have a letter today from a friend who
will take a 1/21 as soon as he sells a guitar he now has with which he is not very well pleased.
Owing to your kindness I suppose my account now stands thus:
By commission on guitar sent to Indiana, 1/27, …………………….$13.50
To strings, …………………………………………………………$5.24
” repairing guitar, ………………………………………………..5.00 $10.24
Balance……………… $3.26
If the above statement is correct, please send me on account two dozen “D’s” (fourths), and also a lock and key for guitar box, as I notice that he lock has been removed from the box of the guitar just received. Charge this to me also.
There seems to be a popular craze all over the country for mandolines, and I should think that you could do something in the way of making fine instruments of that class. The reputation you have justly earned as the manufacturers of the finest guitars made in the world ought to sell your mandolines.
With many thanks, and the best wishes for your continued success, I am,
Very truly yours
J. M. Holland,
P. O. Box 1905,
New Orleans, La.
February 6, 1889
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, February 6th, 1889.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
I enclose herewith a letter received from Charles Klein, of Canton, Ohio, and also copy of my reply. If this gentleman is correct, you are selling materials to some one who is underselling you, and claiming on the strength of getting material from you to make instruments equal to your own. If you are not furnishing materials, as represented, I will make further inquiries into the matter from a friend in Canton, and advise you in order that the deception may be made public.
Please return the letter, and also send me three (3) dozen fourths, one (1) dozen fifths, ond one (1) dozen sixths, strings of your own manufacture. Send bill and I will remit.
With best wishes I am,
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland,
P. O. Box 1905,
New Orleans, La.
P. S.
I think of sending in a few days the terz guiter, which was a gift from my father when I was a child. There will be no need of my waiting until I go north for this. I had some correspondence with you in which you said you would in consideration of this put on a new neck, and otherwise repair the instrument as thoroughly as possible. Please make it peg-head and stain and varnish the face, as well as re-finish the body.
Yours truly,
J M Holland
P. O. Box 1905,
February 27, 1889
New Orleans, La., February 27th, 1889.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
NAZARETH, PA.
Gentlemen:
Your letters of the 11th and 14th instant, and 5 dozen strings were duly received, and in settlement of bill I enclose two and 66-100 dollars ($2.66). Many thanks for your prompt attention to the order. I have sent some of the strings as samples to a friend in Indiana, and I hope that he will not only use them himself, but that he will introduce them among his pupils.
I have written to Ohio making the inquiries about the guitars made in Canton, and am looking for reply every day, whereupon I will commmicate same to you.
There are not many good guitars sold here, and the reason is that there are no good teachers. There are three music stores in this city, and each one imports cheap instruments of foreign makes, besides keeping the Washburn and some other American instruments. While they keep your instruments in stock I do not think they make any special efforts to sell them. I prefer not to teach myself, for I can put my leisure time, outside of office hours, in a more
agreeable work. I am at present translating some guitar works from the French, one of which has never been published. I never fail however to recommend your instruments as the best made. I think the manufacturers of guitars would find it to their interest to keep a troupe of guitar players on the road, similar to the Spanish Students, or on that order. One or two of them should be good soloists, playing the best class of music. This would soon popularize the instrument egain, and should in a short time show results.
By the way, I have a French terz guitar, not equal of course to a C. F. Martin & Co. instrument in any respect, but I value it because it was given to me on my fifth birthday by my Father. It has a fair tone, and had received rough usage before it came into his possession. I dislike the neck and fingerboard very much. Notwithstanding that I have a terz of your make, I would like to keep this instrument as a souvenir. Would you undertake to put on a neck and fingerboard, including peg-head, of your own make? I make bold to ask this because I see from your new bill-heads that you repair as well as manufacture guitars. I have a promise of
an order for a terz guitar for an amateur in Wisconsin.
Please let me know regarding this matter, giving a rough estimate of the cost, somewheres within $5. or $10. of the amount you think it will be worth.
I will write again on receipt of the report from Ohio.
Very truly yours,
J M Holland
P. O. Box 1905,
New Orleans, La.
June 1, 1889
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, June 1st, 1889.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
Please send me the following, for wich I will remit on receiving bill:
3 dozen guitar strings, fourths,
1 ” ” ” fifths,
1 ” ” ” sixths.
I have considerable trouble in getting a good first string here, the dealers keeping generally a cheap, German string. I would like a rough, gut string, as heavy as you can give me. If
you have any such on hand, that you can recommend, please send me say, 1/2 bundle in addition to the above.
I expect to forward my terz for repairs shortly. I have been so busy during the winter months that I have not had time to make a box in which to ship it.
With best wishes, I am,
Truly yours,
J. M. Holland,
P. O. Box 1705,
New Orleans, La.
June 20, 1889
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, June 20th, 1889.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
The strings were received all right, for which many thanks. I retum bill with money order for $5.73, the receipt of which please acknowledge. I had previously sent samples of the wound strings to Cleveland, O., Goshen, Ind., and Fort Howard, Wis. afterwards placing a small trial order in each city. I have now sent samples of the firsts to the same parties, but without having had an opportunity to try them myself, as I had just placed a new string on my instrument the morning your package arrived, and have not yet had occasion to change, I alse sent one of your price-lists to J. M. Sheppard, Grant Centre, Iowa, and advised him to order a terz for his wife, whose hands are too small to use the ordinary instrument. I hope you have received the order. I have an inquiry as to price of a terz made in style of 1/26, please advise me on that point, and send a few more price-lists.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland,
P. O. Box 1705,
New Orleans, La.
July 30, 1889
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, July 30th, 1889.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
I enclose letter and memorandum order from my friend John Santschi, of Goshen, Ind. I have written him that I understand the order to mean a guitar of No. 1 size, cedar neck, rosewood inlaid with pearl, but not ivory-bound, having ivory peg-head, and full, mellow tone. Please ship C.O.D., billed full price, to John Santschi’s address, with privilege to examine. I expect one or two more orders from Goshen, and I would ask you to take special pains to please in this instance.
I am having some trouble with the fourth strings received from you last month. Enclosed find one, which please examine. I think them lighter than usual, but perhaps the defect may be in the silk. A number of them that I have used one after the other will not stand up to concert-pitch, breaking at the peg-end. My friend Santschi, to whom I sent a few for samples to introduce among his friends, makes the same complaint. I wrote him that until too short to reach above the nut I always patched the wound-strings with a piece of third string, sending a sample to show him how to tie the best knot for the purpose.
These fourths, however, after being patched will break before reaching concert-pitch. I mention this because one constantly using strings will observe defects not apparent to the manufacturer, and because in using them not only do I wish to derive satisfaction but I wish everyone else to do the same, to the end that the reputation of your firm, which none will do more to maintain than your humble-servant, may be in the lead for strings as it is for instruments. I shall have to order some more fourths shortly, and I beg that you will give them special attention as I am now distributing them in three States. I would suggest that the fourths be made so that the part closely wound will after a little stretching reach above the hole in, and wind around the peg, which is not always the case now.
By the way, there is a Cuban here whose advertisement I noticed in the music store window last night, who claims to have an improvement for guitars in the shape of an additional sounding-board extending from bridge to end. I will call on him and examine the thing, and advise you what it is. I will also try to get a photograph of a guitar thus modified, as I see one in the music-store window. My terz will go forward in a few days.
With best wishes for your success, I am,
Truly yours.
J. M. Holland
P.O. Box 1705.
August 12, 1889
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, August 12th, 1889.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
Your letter of the 9th instant was received this morning. I have made a copy of it and forwarded to my friend in Goshen, and will communicate his reply as soon as it is received. I have every reason to suppose that his reply will be entirely satisfactory. I have advised him that no improvement can be made over the finger-board you now put on instruments, as one more oval will not admit of “the grand barre.”
In the meantime, please quote me strings all the way through, that is from 1st to 6th. I am very much pleased with the 1st strings and the 5ths and 6ths last received. I have lowered the pitch of my instrument nearly a half-tone so as to use the 4ths, and will keep it so until I use them up. I am glad to leam that you are are working to overcome the defect, and trust that you will be successful. In buying gut strings, I will take only 1/2 bundle at once at present. I may be able to create a demand which will warrant taking them in larger quantitics.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland
P.O. Box 1705.
August 18, 1889
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, August 18th, 1889.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
I enclose letter from John Santschi further to the guiter which was the subject of your last letter to me. Mr. Santschi has a 1/28, and it would appear from from the enclosure that he now wishes for his pupil a 1/21 with pearl around the sound-hole. From his statement I infer that his only reason for asking to look at the instrument before delivery is to ascertain whether it had been damaged in transit by the express company, and, if so, to be able to hold the company responsible before paying the charges. I have had several dealings with him, and have always found him honest and honorale, and do not think that under the circumstances you would be running any risk by giving him the privilege asked for, although in this letter he does not press it.
Please do not forget to advise me of the price of the gut strings as asked in my list.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland
P. O. Box 1705.
C. F. Martin & Co. Guitar
No. 1 Size, Style 21. Rosewood, Cedar neck, Pearl around the sound-hole, Ivory peg-head, Finger-board slightly oval, Without the ivory binding around the body of the Guitar, full mellow tone.
September 14, 1889
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, September 14th, 1889.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
Please send me trial order gut strings, say, 1/2 bundle firsts, 1/2 bundle seconds, and 1/4 bundle thirds, best quality.
Referring to your letter of the 22nd ultimo, stating that the guitar for Mr. Santschi would be ready in about five weeks, I have to ask that you will ship directly to him at Goshen Ind., by express, C.O.D., list price.
With best wishes, I am,
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland,
P. O. Box 1705,
New Orleans, La.
December 21, 1889
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office, September 14th, 1889.
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
Please make and send Mr. John Santschi, Goshen, Indiana, C.O.D. list-price, guitar as described by him: “No. 2-20, rosewood, cedar neck, inlaying around the sound-hole, and without the ivory binding.” I enclose his letter herewith, and ask that you will take particular pains to please him as the instrument is for his daughter.
Please send me the following: 3 dozen fourth strings; 2 dozen fifths, and one dozen sixths; also one-half bundle first strings, very heavy. The last first received from you were entirely too light, and I ask you to please send heavy, selected, first-class strings,–no matter how high the price,–quality is what I wish. I hope you have discovered some way of strengthening the fourth strings at the ends; you wrote sometime ago that there had complaint on that score, and that you were trying to remedy the fault.
What is the best figure you can offer for an 0-21 instrument for my own use?
With the compliments of the season,
I am truly yours,
J. M. Holland
P. O. Box 1705.
January 15, 1891
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office
January 9th, 1891.
[Ans Jan 15]
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
Please send me the following:
1/2 bundle best quality “firsts,”
1/4 bundle ” ” “seconds,”
1/4 ” ” ” “thirds,”
4 dozen ” ” “fourths,”
2 dozen ” ” “fifths,”
1 dozen ” ” “sixths,”
Please select the “firsts” giving me the very largest in size. On account of ill health I have been doing very little in music since last summer, but I am now resuming. I am thinking of having you make another guitar, but before deciding I would ask you to furnish me the following information regarding size “0:”
Length of string from nut to bridge and depth of instrument,
Greatest width across above 12th fret, and greatest width across near bridge.
What I wish to get at is to have information as to whether there is any difference in the scale of the “0” guitar as compared with size 1. Neither of the music-stores here have one of your “0” size in stock, so I am obliged to ask you for the information.
Wishing you the compliments of the season, I am,
Yours truly,
J. M. Holland
P. O. Box 1705.
March 28, 1892
Custom-House, New Orleans, La.,
Collector’s Office
March 28th, 1892.
[Ans. Apr 5]
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
Please make and send by express, C. O, D., to John Santschi, 156 S. Main Street, Goshen, Indiana, one guitar 2–20, ivoryepeg head. I hope this will give as much satisfaction as those you have hitherto sent him, as he is enthusiastic in his praise of your instruments. Collect from him and credit me as before.
I have done nothing, almost, in the past year in music. Sickness of my aged mother and one of my sisters, seriously and for an extended period, has kept me from doing much. The guitar for myself, of which I wrote you, I want for exhibition purposes, and will leave it until I take a run north this summer or fall, as I would have done last year had it not been for the sickness in my family above spoken of. I will then drop in and talk with you on some minor ideas which I have with regard to construction of such an instrument as I wish to have.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland
August 27, 1892
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
August 27th, 1892.
[Aug. 31]
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
Please send me 1/2 bundle rough, gut, firsts, extra heavy, one quarter bundle seconds, and one dozen fourths., & charge to me.
Please send me also the following, but bill to H. C. Blackmar, 221 Canal Street, New Orleans, from whom I will collect and remit to you:
1 bundle first, rough gut, extra heavy;
1/2 ” seconds, ” “
1/2 ” thirds, ” “
1 dozen fourths,
1 ” fifths,
1 ” sixths.
Mr. Blackmar is a music dealer in a small way, having the agency here for the 10 cent editions of music. He pays particular attention to music for guitar, banjo and mandoline, which instruments he also teaches. He has been carrying Pohlmann’s strings, but I have induced him to give me the above as a trial order for you, and if he is pleased, as I have no doubt he will be, he will give me orders for you from time to time.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland
October 26, 1892
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
October 26th, 1892.
[Ans Nov. 1]
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
The strings were duly received sometime ago, for which many thanks. I notice that I am charged this time $1.00 per dozen for the wound strings. Has the price to me been raised to that figure?
Enclosed is a card of the Louis Grunewald Co., the largest music house in the south. I have spoken to Mr. Grunewald regarding your strings, asking him to give you a trial order. He desires to know the lowest price at which you can put these strings if taken in quantities. He says that if he can come to a satisfactory agreement, he will advertise the strings extensively and adopt them in place of the foreign article, which he imports in large quantities for his retail and jobbing trade. If I can make an arrangement with this house for you, I will then call on Mr. Philip Werlein, another large dealer here, and endeavor to place an order with him for your strings.
Mr. Blackmar does a fair retail business, but owing to lack of capital he buys both music and merchandise in small quantities so as to turn his money over quickly. He is a teacher and has all that he can do evenings in teaching guitar, mandolin and banjo. He desires to know whether you cannot make banjo strings also.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland.
December 15, 1894
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
December 15th, 1894.
[Rec’d Dec 19, Ans. Dec 26]
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
For the past two years much of my limited spare time has been given to gathering data for a unique work on the history of the guitar, with sketches of the lives of its greatest artists. I began by getting the material for my own information, securing every work in English, French or German that I had any reason to believe would aid in the research, at the same time making a collection of the best methods and classical music which have been written for the instrument. Pictures and autographs were obtained wherever possible; of the former I have M. A. Zani de Ferranti, Mauro Giuliani and Ferdinand Carulli, and of the latter Matteo Carcassi, Ferd. Sor and Denis Aguado.
I should Like to obtain some information regarding your factory, when founded, its development, method pursued in constructing the instruments, the present annual output, the number made since establishment of the factory, and the countries to which shipped outside of the United States, such of this, of course, as could be given without prejudice to your business. I would also like pictures of the founder of the firm and the present members, with a brief sketch of their lives. It is my intention to issue the book sometime in the coming year, as I have a friend in the music publishing business who has proposed to issue this work on his own account, and also a method on a new plan which I have in view.
The information concerning your factory and the individual members of the firm would be serviceable if furnished at any time between now and April or May, and I will reciprocate for the pictures by having copies made for you of the artists named above.
Thanking you in advance for whatever you may see fit to give me in the above connection, I am,
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland
December 15, 1894 (separate letter)
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
December 15th, 1894.
[Rec’d Dec 19, Ans. Dec 19]
C. F. Martin & Co.,
Nazareth, Pa.
Gentlemen:
I am in receipt of a letter from a lady who wishes to know [the] price for a No. 2 guitar, rosewood, inlaid with pearl around rosette [and at] fifth, seventh and ninth frets, ivory-bound body and finger-board, [and] ivory peg-head. She desires a mellow tone, and is willing to
allow ample time for construction of the instrument. Please advise me [on] this subject at your earliest convenience.
I have a fine specimen of the diminutive guitar called by the Mexicans “Jarana” or”Jaranita” (Haraneeta), and by the Portuguese and people of the Madeiras “Machete” (Machet-tee). I have expected both this summer and last to take a run to New York, and while in the vicinity to spend a day at your factory, bringing with me the terz which I desire to have repaired and the neck renewed, and the little instrument to see whether you would not widen the finger-board so as to accomodate six strings, the number now being four, the original number had by the el Aud, the prototype of the guitar as introduced into Spain by the Moors. If I do not see my way clear to go on a visit north during this spring I will send both instruments to you, and then correspond as to alterations.
Is it practicable for you in making an instrument to order to add [one] or two additional frets? Have you ever made an instrument with seven or eight strings? If it is possible for you to give me [those] additions I may order later an instrument for my own experiment [and] use.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland
January 2, 1895
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
January 2nd, 1895.
[Rec’d Jan 7, Ans. Jan 7]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
Dear Sir:
I read with a great deal of pleasure your letter of the 26th ultimo which I received on the last day of the old year. It contains all, I believe, that I shall need to properly present the claims of the Martin Guitar in a history of the instrument. I shall write you when I get to that part of the work, which may be sometime yet for the reason that my office work takes up so large a portion of my time.
Please accept my thanks. I shall take pleasure in communicating the fact that you are soon to engage in the mandolin business to some of our friends in the hope to influence whatever I can in that direction. The Washburn instruments (made by Lyon & Healy) have the lead here on account of their cheapness as compared with your own. The dealers get 60 % off list prices, and it is to their interest to push the sale of the instruments on which they can make the largest profits. It is only now and then when we find a person who learns the guitar in the proper manner, and who has an ambition above the mere accompaniment of song or some other instrument that we can make him see the superiority of the Martin guitar above all others.
I write now particularly to ask you to construct the guitar mentioned in my letter of the 15th instant, – No. 2, rosewood, inlaid with pearl, ivory bound body and finger-board, ivory peg head. The lady for whom it is intended has decided on my recommendation not to have the finger-board inlaid at the 5th, 7th and 5th frets. As you state in your letter of the 19th instant, the style corresponds to No. 2–27 of the regular list. Please do your best, and when completed send by express C.O.D. full rate to Mr. W. C. Mishler, No. 605 S. 7th Street, Goshen, Indiana, the instrument being intended for his wife.
At the earliest opportunity I shall prepare my instruments for shipment to you. The terz I shall send in a case made of southern cypress, which I think you would find excellent material for construction of your wood cases. It takes a fine finish without staining, and is used quite extensively here for interior decoration of residences and places of business. I have a music case constructed of cypress which is a fine piece of work and very ornamental. I also have one made of cypress stained in imitation of walnut and varnished, and it is a perfect imitation.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland
April 15, 1895
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
April 15th, 1895.
[Rec’d April 20, Ans. April 20]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
My Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 9th ultimo was duly received, and deserved and would have received earlier consideration had it not been for serious trouble with my eyes for the past two months which I very much feared would end in blindness. This trouble was brought on by overstraining the organs, precipitated by constant loss of rest for quite a time necessitated by the serious sickness of one of my sisters. I could not entirely carry out the command of the physician for absolute rest but I came as near it as possible, reading only for such work as could not be postponed in the office and giving as many hours to sleep as possible, giving my eyes absolute rest from twilight to broad daylight the next day, newspaper reading entirely prohibited. I am very much improved but will have to avoid working at night for another month. My father had remarkably strong eyes, and did not use spectacles even for reading fine print until he was 67 years of age, but my mother lost her sight at about my age.
The photographs arrived shortly after your letters, and I thank you very much for both. I hope to have use for them but my work has been entirely stopped for nearly three months, but as soon as I can resume work by artificial light, I shall commence again on the sketches.
Mr. Flanner, of Milwaukee, is a straight-forward, shrewd business man, with large capital, and I think you would do well to gain his trade. On my recommendation he has always proclaimed the superiority of your guitars, and it is but natural that he will regard your mandolins as having the same careful, conscientious manufacture that distinguishes the Martin Guitar.
One of my friends, a teacher of the mandolin, tells me that the mandolins made by our local manufacturer do not give satisfaction, he having known of several that have had to be returned for repairs where the parts have become unglued. The workmen are from Lyon & Healy’s, and I do not know how efficient they are in their trade, but I think that the materials must be of the cheapest, and the effort of the manufacturers to make a showy instrument rather one of good tone and superior workmanship.
I would be pleased if you will send cuts to Mr. J. M. Miller, P. O. Box 174, Vinton, Iowa. He is the teacher of music in the Iowa school for the blind located at that point. He is a German, a good man, and a fine musician. He has quite a number of schola’s there learning the mandolin and guitar, and uses your guitars. I play the mandolin scarcely at all, but should you send a sample, as suggested in your letter, I will see that it is brought to the attention of some of our best players, and will try afterwards to have it exhibited with proper placard in the windows of one of the local dealers. The best player here I think by all odds is a Mexican, whose skillful,
artistic performance is admired greatly, but he can scarcely speak English at all, and is greatly hampered on that account. During the winter he plays cornet, or rather I mean clarinet, and sometimes violin in the French Opera, he being a skillful performer on both.
The guitar you sent to Goshen give entire satisfaction, and I am very appreciative of your efforts to please my friends in that locality.
I will write Mr. Flanner in a few days, and when you get your samples ready for delivery please send him notice to that effect.
The present understanding is that Mr. Planner will issue for me the little work I am now engaged upon, and later an instruction book on an entirely different method from any yet published, designed to greatly reduce the time now required to learn the instrument. The
books of today have not at all deviated from the work published by Carulli, the founder of the modern school for the guitar, in 1810. But, more of this anon.
Yours truly,
J. M. Holland
April 22, 1895
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
April 22nd, 1895.
[ Rec’d April 26, Ans. & Filled May 10]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
My Dear Sir:
I had a talk Saturday evening with Mr. W. N. Grunewald, manager of the L. Grunewald Co., and he says that your mandolins will not come into competition with those made by his company, and that if yours compare in manufacture and excellence of tone with your guitars he would be glad to carry them in stock for sale to those wishing a high grade instrument. Therefore should you decide to send a sample I will have it exhibited in the Grunewald’s window with appropriate card, and will also see what can be done with Werlein.
Please send me at your convenience 3 dozen fourth strings made a trifle heavier than usual.
The Leipzig Guitar Club use a wound string instead of one of gut for the third string, and claim to get a beautiful singing tone from it favorably contrasting with the heavy sound of the gut G. (See “Die Guitarre und Ihre Geschichte,” page 21.) If you would aid me in making the experiment by making a third string of the proper weight I would much appreciate it, and will get some friends in Iowa and Indiana to join in the experiment. A dozen would be sufficient to enable me to experiment myself and distribute two each to my friends.
Please charge the above strings to my account taking time to make them at your convenience, as both are special orders which cannot be filled from stock.
I am writing a note to Mr. Flanner this evening, and will mention to him that you are about to put your mandolins on the market and to write you with regard to them.
With best wishes, I am,
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland
May 17, 1895
[ Rec’d May 20, Ans. May 21]
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
May 17th, 1895.
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
Dear Sir:
Your letter of the 10th instant was received on the 13th, but the mandolin came to hand only yesterday evening. I have just opened the box and was very much pleased with the appearance of the instrument, for which I thank you very much. I had alrendy spoken to Mr. Grunewald about the matter and in the morning shall send it to be displayed in his window, and will send my friends there to examine it. There are really only three music stores here, The Grunewald Co., Limited,; Philip Werlein, and Junius Hart. The Grunewalds are very well off, own their own and several other stores on the principal business street of the city, as well as a large hotel and considerable residence property. They have the agency for the Steinway, Knabe, Sohmer, Fischer and other pianos, and do a very large business. Werlein has a store of finer appearance because of very recent modern build, but he does not own it, and in addition to the current report that he is losing his mind, ill luck seems to pursue him for every once in a while he is burned out. He has a minister in charge of the store, and I do not like the way things are run. He does not own his own business place, and the Lyon & Healey influence in the store has been very strong on account of his having imported two men from the Chicago house that swear by it.
Mrs. Junius Hart is attempting to run the business begun by her husband who died a year or so ago. She owns her own place which, while on Canal Street, is about two squares from what is called the business center. The last two or three years of his life Mr. Hart was paralyzed, and could only in a small degree direct his business, but he had remarkable success, and from a small beginning was able in less than 20 years to leave his wife a full $100,000. dollars in property and stock. Time only can tell how she will succeed.
I think it advisable to place your mandolins for the present at least with the Grunewalds, as the best of the three stores, accepting Mr. Grunewald’s assurance that your own instruments will not interfere with his as he is now making very few other than the cheap grade selling from $5. to $15. He agrees to advertise yours, and to display any placards or signs you may have as well as to distribute your price lists from his counters. He says also that he will keep a few of your wound strings in stock, and make a specialty of offering them to persons asking for good strings. He told me that he would also order one each of the other styles so as to be able to start with a line. I shall take it upon myself to look after the proper representation of
your instruments, and if you have any display cards or signs send them along. Please send me prices of the different strings you supply dealers so that i can get an order from them in that line. I will write again in a few days. Mr. Flanner sent today a copy of paper containing his advertisement of your mandolins and guitars.
Hastily yours.
J M Holland
May 31, 1895
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
May 31st, 1895.
[ Rec’d June 4, Ans. June 7]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
Dear Sir:
Since receiving your letter of the 21st instant I have seen Mr. Grunewald but once. He has your mandolin in the show window with card “C. F. MARTIN & CO., HIGH GRADE MANDOLIN, $45.00.” I told him to seli it if opportunity offered as it can be very readily replaced. In last Sunday’s papers he advertised the mandolins in a notice almost identical with that of Mr. Flanner which I showed him. I think Mr. Flanner will sell more of your instruments than the Grunewalds, not only because the people of the north spend more than those of the south for musical instruments but for the reason that he is a very energetic business man. I advised him to make arrangements with you for the sole agency in Milwaukee of your guitars and wound strings, and he writes me that he has applied to you for same. I hope you may see your way clear to comply with his request. If the Grunewalds will agree to do as I will suggest in a future letter I would advise the same course with them. Any one having the agency should be required to advertise the goods, to keep samples in the windows properly labeled, and to carry a full line of the styles mostly used.
Milwaukee is so close to Chicago that I asked Mr. Flanner who he thought would be the best parties to handles [sic] the Martin goods in Chicago. He thinks that Henry Detmer, Schiller Building, Chicago, would be a perfectly reliable man to handle your goods. Mr. Detmer has a small store under the Schiller Theatre, and Mr. Flanner writes me that he has a very large trade, especially among the Germans, and discounts all his bills. He suggests him because the large houses on Wabash Avenue are interested in pusing something else. Of course, Lyon & Healy are manufacturers of the “Washburn” goods; Lyon, Potter & Co. of the George W. Lyon guitar (at least they were before the death of Mr. Lyon); S. Brainard’s Sons, of the “Criterion” guitar, and so on. If you would like to have Mr. Flanner make the arrangement for you in Chicago write him to that effect and he will do so the first time he has occasion to go to Chicago, which is quite often.
I will have a talk with the Grunewalds about the guitars and strings so far as carrying a full line, and will report later.
Rohlfing & Sons, Milwaukee, have handled a few of your guitars, but as they are sole agents for the Washburn goods they are not apt to take much interest in the Martin guitars.
The Chicago Music Company, Wabash Avenue, Chicago, might be a good house if you prefer a representative on Wabash Avenue.
Yours truly,
J. M. Holland
March 5, 1896
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
March 5th, 1896.
[ Rec’d March 9, Ans. March 10]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
Dear Sir:
I am glad to be in receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo. You have not heard from me for some time because 1895 was a bad year for me in every way. I was especially unfortunate in being harassed throughout the year by a cabal of democratic politicians who got an unscrupulous local Special Agent of the Treasury Department now on duty under this administration to inaugurate a movement to secure the removal of myself and another republican employe under false charges. You know that it is an easy thing to charge a man with all the sins in the Decalogue, especially if the accused has to prove his innocence and the accuser not to prove the guilt. It was only near the close of the year that we finally “scotched the snake” and established to the satisfaction of the Treasury Department that his accusations were entirely the result of malice. We were fortunate in having the help of the collector, or we would have been ousted.
I have done nearly nothing in music matters until recently owing to the matter of which I speak, and of having to get influences to sustain our cause. It was not so much the going out as the going out under charges after so many years of service with Uncle Sam that made us fight so hard to retain our places.
I have been very much disappointed in the action of the Grunewalds in the matter of your mandolins. You will remember that I placed with them the sample you kindly sent me, and for a while they kept it in the show-window, labelled “C. F. Martin & Co. High grade wandolin.” When it was taken out it was stated that it spoiled high grade goods to be kept entirely in the show windows, and it was only to be removed to the inside cases. Lately when it was removed up stairs with the surplus stock I learned that it was because the instrument had given away under the sounding board near the bridge, and it does appear as if the glue had loosened. I therefore took the sample away a few days ago stating that I wished to acquaint you with the fact of the defect and probably return the instrument for repair. The past summer has been one of the rainiest we have had for years, so that I have to regret that my guitar, which has stood this climate since you made it for father in 1873, was affected to the extent of a small separation of the ivory binding from the body for a space of an inch or two. It is a 1/26. This easily explains why not only yours but a number of musical instruments succumbed to the long continuous dampness, combined with the tropical heat.
There is a comparatively new music house here – The Dunning-Medine Company, Limited, having some good men as stockholders, such as the President of the New Orleans National Bank, the Vice-President of the Whitney Bank, and others. Fortified with a complimentary letter of introduction from the Vice-President of the Whitney Bank, I called last Saturday on Mr. Dunning, the manager, Mr. Medine being on the road most of the time. Mr. Dunning stated that if satisfactory arrangements as to prices could be made he would carry your instruments as his high grade mandolins, and also your strings. Both are young men said to be
active and energetic, and I would suggest that you acquaint them, either direct or through me as you may prefer, of the lowest net cash prices for the styles of mandolin embraced in your catalogue if you have issued one, and also of the prices of strings, sending samples of the
fourth, fifth and sixth, those I have on hand being tarnished a little. If you communicate direct, let me know so that I can do all in my power to bring them to carry a representative line as he said he would do if an arrangement as to prices could be made. He speaks this as to prices, because the people here are more given to buying cheap small instruments than costly ones, not considering the quality so much as price and appearance.
Please mail to Mr. John Santschi, People’s College, South Bend, Indiana, Box 292, $1.00 worth of wound strings, including samples of wound third string, sending more of the thirds and fourths than of the others. He promises me to use your strings there and also your instruments. You will remember that you have sent him two guitars on my order. Mr. Flanner is here on a visit, and tells me that now he gets his guitars directly from you with an allowance of 40%. He hopes that the dull times in Milwaukee are now about over and to do better in the
future than in the past.
The Dunning-Medine Co. hav an 0/42 guitar of your make for which they are asking $100. There is too much fancy work on the 42 style for my taste. I like 21 or 26 better with stained or yellow sounding board, and later I am going to get you to make me an 0/21 or 0/26, peg-head.
Please send me a number of your catalogues of mandolins and guitars, and I will see that they are distributed here and in other cities whenever the opportunity occurs. You may also send me 1/2 bundle first strings, gut, rough, and as coarse as possible, charging them to my account.
What do you ask for the 0/42? I may have an order for one soon.
Very truly yours,
J. M. Holland
April 18, 1896
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
April 18th, 1896.
[ Rec’d April 21, Ans. April 21]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
Dear Sir:
Your letter written about a month ago, was duly received, and I have to apologize for not acknowledging its receipt before. But, the fact is that the illness of one of our force, whose work duing [sic] his absence was thrown mainly on me, has kept me unusually occupied, requiring me to remain at the office until 7 o’clock, or later, and I have not yet been able to get the work of my own desk up to date.
Referring to your remark that you have long been surprised at my retention under an adverse administration, I may say to you sotto voce that the opposition to republicans remaining in office under this administration will cease only when the Republican President has been inaugurated. Even so late as February and March were attacks made on the Auditor and myself by the same understrapper and marlplot who instigated the former attacks. I think we will be able to weather the storm, put it requires constant watchfulness on the part of ourselves and friends to resist the steady, unprincipled and untruthful charges made against us every few months by the person named.
I do not think you are the only person feeling the dullness in the music trade. Lyon & Healey must feel it immensely, for do you know that the firm is loaning highly ornamented guitars and mandolins to The Grunewald Company, Philip Werlein and Junius Hart for show window ornamentation. The guitars are marked at prices from $200. to $400., but one of the $200. grade was sold by the Grunewald Co. for $125. a few days ago. The only consideration asked for the loan of the instruments is the payment of the freight both ways, so I am told by one of the parties.
As you say, a change of methods of doing business seems to be resulting from the storm that has raged, but I fear that the storm is not yet over, nor will it cease until proper legislation shall be had to enable the country to pay its expenses without incurring additional debts, for a nation can no more prosper by piling up obligations than can an individual.
As regards your own business, I think eventually, whether you continue to sell your entire product to the jobbing house or conduct your own business with dealers, it will be necessary to have local agencies as do the piano manufacturers, or to invite trade by large discounts and favors in credits as Lyon & Healey are doing. The former would seem preferable, and if not in either case certainly in the latter, drummers to represent the instruments would seem advisable, if you can obtain the services of those combining a knowledge of the instrument and good business methods. Perhaps a successful innovation in the business could be made were the teachers to undertake to carry a stock of instruments, strings and music, small at first but in proportion to their business, and to advertise their stock by giving frequent rehearsals to which those interested in the line of instruments carried would be invited by special card. While this would incur the enmity of the dealers towards the teachers, I think it would pay in time and render the teachers so doing, entirely independent of the recommendations of the dealers. The dealers frequently do as was done by one of them in this city a short time ago. A lady, a teacher of the piano, now studying to qualify herself to teach the guitar, bought a 1/21 Martin guitar, was charged $50. and given a discount of 10% because she was a teacher. Her teacher knew that she was being overcharged but feared to acquaint her of the fact because he might incur the enmity of the dealer. This same house has done the same thing before.
I had no idea of suggesting long credits, or in fact any credit at all, for the Dunning-Medine Co., but thought that in consideration of the two active stockholders being young men and hustlers, of the good business location they occupy, and of the success they are reported to have made thus far, it would be well to encourage them in favor of the Martin instruments before they had bought largely of the Washburn. Under the laws of this State a stockholder is not bound for anything more than the stock he has in a “limited company,” but that can be overcome in case of credits by endorsed notes of the stockholders who are wealthy and in such condition that their property can be reached. The matter need not considered now, however, as the business season will not really begin until next September. In the meantime when the catalogues and price-lists come to hand I will have a talk with them with regard to the advisability of their handling your instruments, and if they order in small lots I am sure that they will be able to pay cash within the ten days, or even to accompany their orders with cash.
I explained to Mr. Dunning, whom I met one evening shortly after receiving your letter, that the price of the 0/42 is $90. instead of $125. as he appeared to think, he being without any price-lists, and that the instrument he then had was of a fine tone, as well as thorough settled, repeating what you had written me. He afterwards sent me word that he was charged $54. net for it, although at the time he supposed that that price was a special discount from $125, instead of 40% from $90. I also strongly recommended the instrument to a young man who was trying to make a dicker for it for $75. while the firm held it at $80. I do not know whether he purchased it as I have not seen him or Mr. Dunning for over three weeks.
The guitar history is still in an uncompleted state, as is also the new method which I have in view. I have been in such an unsettled frame of mind during the past year that I have done little on the work beyond corresponding with parties in Europe relative to guitar virtuosos of the beginning of the century. Am now awaiting a reply as to the authenticity of a picture I think to be Carcassi, whose autograph I have succeeded in getting. I am also awaiting some further information as to the history of Legnani, particularly as to the time of his death. You know that he was the greatest of the guitarists with the exception of Zani de Ferranti, whose picture, history and autograph I now have.
I have pictures for you of the parties whose pictures will be put in the little work, and you shall know before it goes to the printer and I shall probably send it to you to look over before that time.
The D strings you sent were the best I have had as to durability as well as tone, and you may send me a dozen at your leisure.
I received today a package and letter from Mr. Flanner, who is still complaining of dull times in Milwaukee, although he says that he is doing his share of the business doing.
With best regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
J M Holland
April 25, 1896
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
April 25th, 1896.
[ Rec’d April 28, Ans. April 30]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazarety, [sic] Pa.
Dear Sir:
I have your letter of the 21st instant, as well as the guitar and mandolin price-lists, for which thanks. My efforts in behalf of your firm, which you seem to appreciate far beyond their value, I am sorry to say have resulted in little substantial benefit to you, but I feel that whenever and wherever I recommend a “MARTIN” I am favoring the purchaser far more than the seller, as while the latter may make a few dollars, the former has obtained a “source of pleasure forever,”
I did not mean to recommend anything whatever as to credit to be given the Dunning-Medine Company, and like yourself would prefer that they deal with your New York agent. What I was trying to accomplish was to have some one here carry a line of Martin instruments which would not be hidden among the surplus stock and only brought forward when particularly asked for, and sometimes even insisted upon, by a purchaser. I hope yet to get the D-M Co. to see that it will be to their interest to do so.
I fully agree with you regarding teachers. My suggestion contemplated a combination of the teacher and small dealer; the stock to pe purchased in the same manner as the large dealers purchase goods, and the teacher to extend the use of the instrument, or instruments, by giving rehearsals at which the resources of the instruments would be shown by the performances of himself and advanced pupils. His showcases would exhibit his little stock to those who attended his renearsals, and they, and, through their influence, their friends, would give him preference in their custom. The teacher of this type would have to be “out of his swaddling clothes,” for otherwise he could not give, or even direct, rehearsals. After all, it seems to me that the public is at fault for accepting the services of incompetent teachers, for cheap instruction is almost invariably poor instruction, and were the same discrimination exercised by those seeking guitar lessons as is exercised by those about to begin lessons on the piano or violin there would soon be no field for the guitar thrummers, and an incentive would be created for those competent to engage in the business.
My guitar history is yet in fragments, requiring to be put together and copied. There are things lacking, which I would like to supply, some facts regarding the old virtuosi of Europe not given in any of the encyclopedias of music, which would make the work much more complete. These I am still endeavoring to get through dealers or U. S. Consuls at two or three of the European Capitals. I can work at this only during the summer evenings at odd times, and then I have to be at a disadvantage on account of the tropical heat and the mosquitoes. I have also been preparing some material for a new method to be arranged differently from any yet published, and at the same time give a uniform manner of fingering scales in single and double notes and chords, which will make it possible to play with comparative ease in all keys with the same facility as on the piano. Neither of these works would I issue myself for I would not have the time and means to put them on the market, and it would not be worth my while to go to a large expense merely to give to others the information which I already have in manuscript. I think I will have Mr. Flanner’s assistance in both projects. But in any event you shall have a copy of the information which I have been at so much pains and expense to gather, even if I am so unfortunate as not to have it published. I shall first send it complete to you in manuscript.
The D strings were three in number, which you sent in the letter previous to yours of the 21st instant, asking me to test them for tone and durability. They are in both respects superior to anything I have yet had, although at this season of the year the test is not such as would be made when the rainy season is over. Now the instruments must ordinarily be kept below concert pitch, or the strings will be snapping every day. I am quite satisfied, though, with these strings.
I did not before know that you make a size of guitar larger than the “0.” What are the relative measurements of the 1,0 and 00? Is there is any difference in the scale, or length of string?
With best wishes, I am,
Truly yours,
J. M. Holland.
August 12, 1896
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
August 12th, 1896.
[ Rec’d Aug 15, Ans. August 17]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
Dear Sir:
It has been sometime since I received your last letter, and | have delayed replying from time to time hoping to have really something of interest to communicate to you, and especially because I had the promise of an order for two instruments to be made by you which I had hoped to send with my next communication to you. But the bicycle craze, which is less than a year old here and ought to be in its swaddling clothes for that reason, seems to have grown like Jack’s bean stalk, and has nearly ruined the small instrument business both for dealers and for teachers. Two teachers have left here, both having until the past year been doing a fine business, and another, who up to last October had been averaging $150. per month, has since that time found his income from that source reduced to about $40. per month, and the poor fellow, now 60 years old, is struggling to support himself and family and finds himself in really distressed circumstances. He brought me a package of guitar music, good and most of it out of print, and asked me to try and dispose of it for him at any reasonable price.
I have not been doing much going around since the hot weather set in last June, and do not know whether the Dunning-Medine Company succeeded in getting rid of that fine guitar they ordered. They did not sell it to the young man on the strength of whose desire to get a fine instrument they ordered out the one in question. And, it is dollars to doughnuts that they have it on hand yet, because both the young women and the young men spend their dollars and time in getting and riding wheels now.
I have had the pictures of Giuliani, Carulli and Zani de Ferranti enlarged for framing and while at it had a set made for you. I had also the frontispiece of Carcassi’s method, the foreign edition, copied as I had always been under the impression that the picture was that of the author. I have tried to verify my impression by correspondence with parties in Europe, but now give it up as the publishers state that owing to the great time that has elapsed since the publication of the work no one now connected with the house can give any information on the subject, and no authenticated picture can be found by them of Carcassi. But as I have his autograph traced on the negative and copied with the picture the work is not without interest and value to those who prize guitar literature and curiosities. I do hope that I will be able to get to Nazareth soon because I want to consult you regarding some details of guitar fingerboards before I have one made. If I do not succeed in getting off I shall have to attempt to do it in a series of letters instead of illustrating what I mean by placing the fingers. If you would care enough for these celebrities to preserve them I will send them after hearing from you. If my account will admit of it please send me 1/2 bundle, rough first strings, selecting the larger for me.
Sincerely yours,
J M Holland
September 12, 1896
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
August 12th, 1896.
[ Rec’d September 15, No answer]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
Dear Sir:
I received your two letters of recent dates, was glad to hear from you, and especially to learn that the photographs arrived in good condition. I have not been able to identify with certainty the picture above the autograph of Carcassi, but of the others there is no doubt. The photograph of Carulli, the founder of the modern school for the guitar, is enlarged from an engraving in the third edition of his method, a copy of which I succeeded in getting from Verseilles, France. The picture of Giuliani, one of the most celebrated of the virtuosi of the early part of this century, is copied from an engraving I got from his publisher, Artaria — Vienna, some years ago. The photograph of Zani de Ferranti, is an enlarged copy of one obtained from his son, now in Brussels, Belgium, by Mr. J. M. Miller, now of Vinton, Iowa. I have since received directly from the son copies of newspaper notices, both European and American, which I intend to use in my sketch. So the identity of three of the four is perfectly established. Sketches of Carcassi and Carulli, prepared by me, appeared in the Musical World in 1888, which I shall enlarge upon in the contemplated work. I think I shall be able to give you copies in advance for your scrap-book,
Sincerely yours,
J. M. Holland
October 10, 1896
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
October 13th, 1896.
[ Rec’d October 13, Ans. October 13]
Mr. Frank H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
Dear Sir:
I have your letter of the 5th instant, relative to music for a guitar player in your place who desires something above the ordinary light modern compositions. Of course, it is difficult to advise you what to get unless I knew something of the taste of the player, but I think I can give some idea of what can be done for him. As you say that he plays trios with flute and violin, I enclose list of such trios published by Joh. André, Offenbach (Germany), with prices marked in Marks (about 24 cents). It has generally cost me about 15 cents to the mark to import German music, but if you can get C. A. Zoebisch & Co. to get music from Schirmer and give you the benefit of their discount you can get them for about 20 cents per mark. These pieces were formerly carried in stock by Schirmer, and such as he has you could obtain in less than a week, whereas it takes us about 6 weeks to send an order to Europe and get a return from it. I have comparatively a small number of trios but recommend the above because the duos I have by these authors, especially Muller, are very good. I would suggest that you select a few of the pieces, write to Zoebisch to get them from Schirmer, and calculate that with the benefit of his discount they will cost you about 20 cents to the mark. If he is pleased with them (I refer to the guitar player) you can either order more from Schirmer, or I will take great pleasure in sending to Europe for whatever else you may desire, and give you the benefit of the prices I get, which of course are not quite as favorable as those given to large purchasers.
I have a number of flute and guitar duets placed in my hands by a party here for sale, 13 in number, which are by authors of the highest reputation, and for which he will take $4.20, that being Schirmer’s price to dealers. (He got them from Schirmer while he was a dealer). He also has 3 duos for 2 guitars — 80 cents–, and 1 solo, Philomele Waltz by J. Strauss, arranged by the author, 25 cents. The whole amount he will take in strings, he says if you will put them to him at
teacher’s price, he being now a teacher.
In the matter of solos I hardly know what to recommend until you inform me whether he (the player) would prefer fantasies (themes with variations), operatic potpourris, or music more of the strict sonata class.
If you order anything from Schirmer, ask that he send you his catalogue of guitar music, and make a selection yourself of something from the following solos for guitar:
Carcassi, op. 44, 3 Airs suisses varieé;
Carulli, ” 364 “Ma Normandie.” Romance varieé.
Mertz, J.K., ” 4, 3 Nocturnes,
8, No. 2, Lucia de Lammermoor,
” “, ” 10, La Straniera,
” 65, 3 morceaux,
” 33, Original Steyrer Tanze.
I think that you can determine now just what you will do. You can select any number, from one to the whole list, from the trios and get them from Schirmer to see how your friend will be able to execute them; you can take any portion, or none, as you like of the duos for flute and guitar, and see how he gets along with one of the parties with whom he now plays trios. If you get Mertz, op. 4 and 33 (polish music), the least difficult you will be able to judge of his execution from that class of music. In the matter of new music, whenever you are not in a hurry, I can save you about 25% from the prices charged dealers by Schirmer. I have been able to find only one lot of second-hand music during the past year, as I have waited for it to come to me, but I will have two friends, both dealers in second-hand books, put notices in their windows
asking for second-hand guitar music, and I may be able to get some for you in that way, very cheap in prices. I am now only looking for music to complete certain authors, and would be glad to let you have anything I come across that will not fit in my collection, or of which I have copies already. I have J. K. Mertz’s compositions complete now, over 50 of Carcassi’s, and over 200 of Carulli’s. So you see, that with the three authors I give you above, I am doing quite well.
Please send me one dozen fourth strings, a little heavy, at your leisure, and let me know what you determine upon in regard to the above music, and, if you get any from Schirmer, how your friend gets along with it, stating at the same time whether he has had the training necessary to give him a knowledge of the finger-board, the different positions, etc.
Sincerely yours,
J M Holland
GUITAR, FLUTE & VIOLIN.
Kuffner, Jos., Op. 2, Serenade, 4. Marks.
” 6, ” 3.20 “
” 110, Nocturne, 2.60 “
Muller, J. J., ” 6, Masaniello, (Potpourri), 1.50
” 15, Oberon, 1.50
” 18, Romeo & Juliette, 1.50
” 20, Guillaume Tell, 1.50
” 21, Norma, I, 1.50
” 22, do. II, 1.50
” 15, Sonnambula, I, 1.50
” 15, do. II, 1.50
” 15, Straniera, I, 1.50
” 15, do. II, 1.50
Carulli, F., No. “1, Ouverture Calife, 1.80
” 2, Tancrede, (Ouverture) 2.60
” 3, Gazza Ladra (Ouverture) 2.60
” 4, Barbiere de Seville, (Ouverture) 2.00
Busch & Spintler, 1, Martha (Potpourri), 2.60
2, Prophete, ” 2.60
3 Indra, ” 2.60
4 Huguenots, ” 2.60
5, Belisar, ” 2.60
6 Zampa, ” 1.80
Spintler, Op. 83, Trovatore, Amusement, 1.50
84, Souvenir de Donizetti, 1.30
October 17, 1896
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
October 17th, 1896.
[ Rec’d October 22nd Ans. October 27]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
Dear Sir:
The teacher accepts your offer, as made in my letter of the 10th instant, and yours of the 13th, except as to two pieces which he will retain. I have therefore wrapped and will send by express:
11 pieces guitar and flute, at same rates, $3.50
3 pieces two guitars, .80
1 piece guitar solo, .25
$4.55
I have been making a further effort to get some second-hand music for you at this end of the line, having had the two principal dealers in second-hand books, ete., in the district where the French and Spanish population reside place signs in their windows, and hope that something will come out of it for both of us. I went through a pile of old music for various instruments in one of the stores with the result of finding ten pieces for guitar solo, nearly all very good in character but in a shocking condition, having been handled over and over again for two or three yeurs probably. I send you this lot and you can let your friend trim the edges, and bind with heavy paper, as I do single pieces I use, when unbound, and he can get considerable pleasure out of the practice that it will give him. There is no charge at all for this lot.
I will let you know how to divide the strings to be sent the teacher when next I write. I hardly knew whether to tell him that he could get a portion of the credit in firsts, as I do not know whether you sell them whenever ordered or to me only as a favor.
The Dunning-Medine Company finally got rid of the guitar about which I wrote you last summer, I understand that they charged and received $100. for it.
Yours truly,
J M Holland
December 1, 1896
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
December 1st, 1896.
[ Rec’d Dec 7, Ans. Dec 7, Filled Dec 22]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
Dear Sir:
Your letter was received some three or four weeks ago, but I have delayed replying hoping to get some more good music in the line you wish. I have track of a German who is said to have quite a large stock of guitar music, but I have never been able to get to his place of business at an hour when he was in, our business hours being ahout the same. I did manage to get out last Saturday long enough to take a run up there, but he had gone to a funeral and was not expected to return until Monday. So it has been. I may not be able to get anything at all from him, but I trust that he will be willing to part with some of his collection as I understand that he has given up the practice of the instrument.
I hope the triumph of sound money at the late election will make a general increase of business all along the line, but I think it will be gradual. For the music you may send:
2 dozen D’s, $1.50 Forward, $3.37
2 ” A’s, .87 Less 10%, 33
1 ” A’s, 1.00 $3.04
$3.37 1 dozen 1sts, 1.50
$4.64
Hoping to hear from you at your convenience, I am,
Sincerely yours,
J. M. Holland.
May 12, 1897
Office of the Collector of Customs,
Port of New Orleans.
May 12th, 1897.
[ Rec’d May 17, Ans. May 18]
Mr. F. H. Martin,
Nazareth, Pa.
Dear Sir:
Your interesting letter was received two weeks ago, and I have been trying to get time to give it attention for several days. I have been very much occupied for the past two months, and to the almost entire exclusion of any private affairs.
I note particularly your proposed change of policy in business whereby an effort is to be made to reach the users directly without intervention of the dealers in all cases possible, allowing at the same time fair discounts to dealers. This is, as you say, the method of Lyon & Healy and I think that through it they have managed to build up a large trade. This firm has three sets of prices, those for dealers, those for teachers, and those for persons buying instruments for their own use. Their discounts to dealers are 60 per centum on instruments embraced in their general catalogue, to teachers 20%. They keep their goods before the public by advertisements, and before the dealers by visits of their traveling salesmen. In some cases they consign goods, and in others gives extra discounts to get in a line of their goods. They are in so many lines of goods and have such large capital that they can afford to take risks in selling that one cannot entertain not similarly favored. I think, though, that an endeavor to bring the Martin guitars and mandolins more prominently before the public must be made for your future success in the great competition now going on. This I understand you propose to do by advertising and by attractive catalogues. I wish to help you in getting some testimonials for your instruments. If you desire I will give you one in my father’s name for I have talked with him so much as to the instruments that I can reproduce his exact words. His name is still well known both by reason of his music and his instructors published by Ditson and Brainard. I will enlist the services of some close friends in this also. Those who are teachers may be favored by direct sales where you have no agents and at larger discounts for cash so as to continue their influence. This is the first thing to take up, for the preparation of these testimorials, the advertisements of teachers by pictures, etc., in connection with their testimonials in your catalogue requires some time. The advertisements in magazines or papers can be gotten up in a hurry, if necessary. I wish you would in your next give me every point that you can relative to the age of the wood you use, the care in manufacture, the choice materials selected, and the points of superiority of the instruments as compared with others, which occur to you or have been brought to your attention by others. I want this in order to suggest different forms of testimonials for a few different persons I can reach at once. Others we must try to bring in line through these and friends in their localities.
The subject of advertising must be taken up afterwards, as it will not take up so much time. It seems to me that Zoebisch & Company should be able to make arrangements with parties traveling for firms in other lines to distribute your catalogues, secure correspondence with them, and to take orders wherever possible. Drummers down here often take on their own account lines of goods not carried by their principals and make a few dollars in commissions in that way. Just think over this also.
The very best advertisement would be of course an artist who could play the instrument in an artistic manner employed to travel, giving recitals at the music stores carrying your instruments, carefully and judiciously impressing upon those with whom he came in contact the superiority of the instruments he represented and the weak points of others.
I think you will also have to list one or two models at cheaper prices if possible.
I am so very tired tonight that I doubt if I have made my ideas intelligible, but they will at least start you to thinking along those lines and when I next write I hope to elaborate more.
If you think it well we could reproduce the pictures of the old masters in your catalogue so as to make it an object of preservation to those who know anything of their works, giving a short biographical notice of each.
I have not been able to do much in music this winter because of impaired health and increased duties at the office. Since last writing you I have found no music but one method containing an excellent engraving of Aguado, one of the old Spanish masters, who lived in Paris many years at about the same time as Sor, De Fossa, Giuliani, et als. I shall have this copied later and will send it to add to your collection.
When I get your points I will work them up with my own and start the work of obtaining testimonials from a few persons, and hope that we can gradually enlarge the circle through them.
Hoping that you are well and doing your share of the instrument business, I am,
Sincerely yours,
J. M. Holland
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