Martin Handcraft

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[Rick Denney]

Does Handcraft on a Martin Bell indicate that the horn was considered a "Pro Level" instrument? What does the Handcraft marking mean?

I've been able to find sites that talk about Martin Saxes and Trumpets but none in regards to Martin Tubas. Does anyone have some Martin Tuba related links?

Thx

The "Handcraft" label was indeed their top of the line, though it doesn't necessarily mean more of it was hand-made than with other models.

Martin tubas can be wonderful, and they are not well documented on the web. I haven't really searched, but my casual searches haven't turned up a thorough web page on Martin tubas.

Rick "who also owns a Martin--NOT a Handcraft" Denney

[Paul Scott]

Martin made premium instruments and I don't believe that they had a budget line other than the "Indiana" brand.

According to their catalogues, "Handcraft" supposedly indicated more work being done by hand and less by machine. They were a smaller company and did not produce the volume of instruments that others did and they were expensive for the day. And they were GOOD (especially the pre WWII horns).

If you have any specific questions feel free to email me.

[PolkaNoble]

My Martin Handcraft Eb Helicon was, I'm told, made about 1913.

It has not been overhauled or rebuilt that i can tell, and the (3) valves are pretty tight. It plays well in tune and it sounds like a modern tuba.

I'm not surprised to hear that handcraft is a premium brand.

[ken k]

The local band here near Reading has a Martin handcrafted Sousa that I played once at a rehearsal years ago. i couldn't believe how heavy the thing was but i aalso couldn't believe the sound it made. It was beautiful!
I should check that horn out again someday.

ken k

[Paul Scott]

Also, Renold Schilke was one of the people who designed Martin's "Committee" trumpet. A bit of history that I've pieced together from a few sources:

John Henry Martin (born in Dresden, 1835) apprenticed as an instrument builder in Germany. He founded "The Martin Company" in Chicago, perhaps as early as 1865. The factory was destroyed by fire in 1871 but he became Conn's 6th employee in 1876. John and his son Henry worked for York after this and Henry became Superintendent of the York factory by 1902.
A second company, "The Martin Band Instrument Company" was formed ca. 1904 by John's five sons. They built instruments in their homes until opening a factory in Elkhart in 1910.
I contacted Leblanc when they owned the Martin name in the 1990s. They had nothing left of the history of the company except for an old serial number notebook. Occasionally I would call a very helpful person at Leblanc who would look up numbers and dates for me. She would always say, "They built some beautiful horns." Now that Leblanc was sold who knows if the even the book still exists.

[Daniel C. Oberloh]

Over the years, I have had occasion to rebuild or repair many Martin instruments, not just tubas. I have always thought they made the extra effort to build fine playing instruments that were substantial and elegant. My own observations are the same as Rick's in that there is little information on there products and history to be found on the web. I have an early four rotary Eb Martin that I have been slowly restoring that I think is one of the coolest tubas I have been lucky enough to call my own, at least until its restoration is finished. Sadly for me, it already has a new home waiting for it.


Daniel C. Oberloh
Oberloh Woodwind and Brass Works

[Paul Scott]

Thought I'd include a link to an online-autobiography of Reed Adams who played tuba during World War II. A member of that Great Generation. Martin tubas are mentioned.

http://www.lst791.com/LST791/men/reedadams.html

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[iiipopes]

For both tuning and proper positioning of the instrument, the bits are necessary. Where to get them? Good luck. I wish I knew myself.

[Paul Scott]

Some of the earlier Martin tuba models did not use tuning bits and had standard receivers. It will be obvious if you need the bits as there will be no mouthpiece receiver at all, (picture trying to play a sousa without any neck on it). As Mark Heter mentioned, the originals are not like average sousa bits but are fitted quite precisely.

Some people have used a certain brand of replacement sousa bits (Selmer Bundy?) that resemble the originals. Never tried them myself but I'm sure that Bloke or another tech. would know more of the details.
A bore size of .805? That's unusual as the bigger Martins (Mammoths) were usually only about .730 and the smaller ones (Mediums) even less.