Martin 1K Binding Mystery

OhioBelle

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Seeking the Magisterium
First, Happy Independence Day to everyone in the US!

Next, I have been reading The Martin Ukulele by Tom Walsh & John King. Excellent book and resource for those interested in Martin's history and ukuleles. Complete with tons of beautiful, UAS-enabling pictures.

https://www.amazon.com/Martin-Ukulele-Little-Instrument-Helped/dp/1476868794

Which brings me to the reason for today's post. The binding on mine appears to be black celluloid. Not rosewood or even faux tortoise as the book identifies as the bindings used.

Does anyone know if Martin ever used black bindings on koa sopranos? Or, could the rosewood or tortoise turn black as it ages? If so, it aged uniformly, as the binding is solid black with no variations in color.

Pics can be seen in my NUD post below.

http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?127347-NUD-True-Martin-Centennial-Soprano
 
I think better pictures would help. You may have the only 1K with black binding , wouldnt that be cool !
 
I think better pictures would help. You may have the only 1K with black binding , wouldnt that be cool !

Cool indeed! Thanks, Pete. Uploaded some more pics here. That binding looks black to me. Black as midnight, black as coal, same color as the tuner buttons.

https://goo.gl/photos/KfCrGSthz2of9qvF6

FWIW, I adore this uke and don't care what color the binding is. But it would be interesting to solve the mystery!
 
There is also a 1K dated as 1935 on eBay with black binding. So yours may be the first year it was done.
 
Interesting finds, D28! The date of 1933 on mine was from the shop where I purchased it. They said it was due to the presence of front decal + bar frets, the logic being that bar frets were discontinued in 1934.

However, I have since read that bar frets on Martin guitars were discontinued in 1934, but they may have been used on ukuleles after that time. So I guess the only thing I can say for certain is that mine was most likely made sometime after stamps were no longer put on the back of the peghead, and prior to the discontinuation of koa ukes! LOL! Which is to say - nothing is certain! :rotfl:
 
Now that I think of it; I think I heard the stamp and decal were used 32-34, but I'm not certain of that. I could see the bar fret thing being a vague determination unlike the '34 cut off for guitars. Yours looks to have the same tuners as mine, regardless of these unknown details it's vintage and a real beauty- enjoy!
 
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