I will share with you some pics of an instrument in Australia that is only ONE serial number diget away from mine, so you have an idea what we are working with and can readily see what was done early on....as well as being able to see some of the interesting and unusual design and ideas of the times. Most of my information is from a curator of these guitars and their history. There were only 66 of these guitars built in 1867.
These guitars were built by John C. Haynes...who started in 1856, first working under the guidance of Master Luther Pehr Anderberg from Sweden, at the age of 15. After the war, he decided to go out on his own and set up shop in Boston in 1865. Shortly afterward, (I think due to lack of funds) He teamed up with one William B. Tilton then the "Tilton Improvements" were added and the name under the Company of Bay State, who also made the Ditson and Excelsior brands as well as others...was Haynes/Tilton Pat. improvements. This guitar was bought by Martin for it's building concepts and is every bit as good as a Martin 30's "0" according to those that know.
The construction is of solid Brazilian Rosewood, an extremely fine grained German or Sitka Spruce top and a Cuban Mahogany neck, with an ebony fingerboard and bridge with a brazilian violin type bridge with a straight (Non-intonated metal insert)...and Maple Binding. It also came with a Brazilian head plate and an interesting medallion mounted on one of the "Tilton Improvements" a wooden spruce Brazilian topped rectangular brace running from neck (Into) and through the neck block to and through the tail block. The nut is Brizilian as is the "Cap" on the botton of the neck at the body. The tuner buttons are bone...and hand carved (See Pics) and it had a very ornate tail piece. the Medallion and tail piece were originally made with coin silver and finely engraved...both of these were missing from MY giutar, but the Curator said they show up now and then and he is looking for those for me...as well as a couple of others...so I feel I may get lucky.....in your roamings I would appreciate it if you would also keep your eye out for those items.
This guitar was owned by my Aunt (By marriage) and It belonged to HER mother who played it most of her life. It was originally owned by my Aunt's Grandmother who passed in the late 1880's and who bought it new.
I have a pic of my Aunt's mother playing this guitar Ca. 1910 on the front porch of their home in New Castle Indiana if I can find it...we still haven't unpacked all since loosing out home and everything but our personals due to illness of my wife and myself...just prior to our eligibility of Medicare. I had forgotten about this guitar, our Daughter had taken my instruments and stored them in her home and last week we were going though those things trying to make heads and tails of them and I didn't remember the case she brought me....I had it 50 years and didn't know what I had....Shesssssh...getting old is not for OLD people!.
Any Way, here are the pics inside and out of The Old Girl's sister... Model (2) number 1179 year 1867. (Mine is 1180 just one digit later) What you will see on the top are repairs closely required on my guitar. There are NO cracks on the sides or the back of mine. and it looks like all else it tight..with Hot Hide glue except where the biding is missing on the back and an area about 2" long on the top.
Enjoy!
OK...that's it for now...have to take it a little at a time...more to come. We'll
get into the meat of the thing...Thanks for looking!
Ray