In 1916, Martin started building guitars and other instruments for the Oliver Ditson Company, a major music publisher based in Boston in New York. Although these instruments were made by Martin in Nazareth, Pa., many of them are labeled with the "Oliver Ditson Co. Boston New York" stamp. Built with Ditson's design considerations in mind, some of the guitars are famously considered the first dreadnoughts made by Martin. With the wide waist and longer body of the Style 0, you can even see the dreadnought influence on the Ditson ukuleles.
This Style 0 ukulele was made in approximately 1921, and it bears the Ditson stamp in the soundhole but the "C.F. Martin & Co." stamp on the back of the headstock. It is essentially the same as the Martin Style 0 soprano ukulele, but it has the unique Ditson body shape with the wider waist. Priced with beginner's in mind, the Style 0 was the most popular Martin-made ukulele in the Ditson catalog.
This circa-1921 Ditson Style 0 has had some repairs of the years, but it finds us in stable, playable condition. In particular, there are three repaired cracks on the top, and it looks like the top has been reglued to the side along the end block. The bridge has been reglued and repaired, and the worn out string holes currently rely on two ball ends to keep eh strings in place. With all of that in consideration, it's a fun ukulele with a lot of charm and vibe. You can definitely hear the years—as you strum, this Style 0 produces a rich, woody sound.
For any fan of Martin guitars, this 110-year-old Ditson Ukulele would make a wonderful addition to the collection. But it's also fun piece of Americana that may inspire new songs and ideas. It would also make an intriguing conversation piece in the living room, and what's more you can actually pick it up and make music with it. It includes its original hardshell case. The handle isn't in the best shape, but we'll cut it some slack. At least, it's still hanging on!