[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 160 (Tuesday, November 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1634-E1635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF C.F. MARTIN & COMPANY'S 180 YEARS AS A GUITAR 
                       CRAFTMANSHIP WORLD LEADER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 12, 2013

  Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate C.F. Martin & Co. 
of Nazareth, Pennsylvania on achieving 180 years as a guitar-maker on 
November 6. C.F. Martin & Co. has been as an icon of craftsmanship in 
America's rich musical heritage, a stalwart provider of specialty jobs 
and specialty exports, an inspiration as a legacy family business, a 
trend-setter in sustainable practices, and a supporter of its local 
community over its many years of operations.
  Since 1833, C.F. Martin & Co. has been producing some of most highly 
respected and innovative guitars in American history. Blending hand 
craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology, Martin guitars were 
very difficult to match in tone, playability, quality, and enduring 
value. Embraced by artists in all corners of the globe, Martin guitars 
helped to define many musical genres including country, folk,

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blues, and rock and roll. As the oldest surviving acoustic instrument 
producer in the world, C.F. Martin & Co. led the charge ever since the 
guitar began to take hold in the early 1800s and eventually surpassed 
the piano as the most popular instrument.
  Impressively, six generations of the Martin family have continuously 
owned and operated C.F. Martin & Co. The company persevered through the 
Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, the Great Depression, 
World War II, and even the disco decade. C.F. Martin's adherence to 
high standards of musical excellence and the company's adaptability 
have helped account for its remarkable longevity. Business conditions 
and musical trends have changed over the years, but Martin's attitude 
toward guitar-building clearly has not.
  C.F. Martin & Co. is also a commendable corporate citizen, with a 
long-standing dedication to responsible timber sourcing and a 
willingness to support its local community of Nazareth and the Lehigh 
Valley. Nationally and internationally, royalties from more than fifty 
signature edition Martin guitar projects have been donated to support 
of an array of charitable causes of various recording artists' 
choosing.
  C.F. Martin & Co.'s achievements are a reflection of its guitars' 
high quality and the inspiration those instruments imbue in artists' 
hands. The company's accomplishments are a source of pride for its 
generations of employees and for Martin guitar players around the 
globe. I extend my wishes for continued high contributions to the world 
of music for many years to come.

                          ____________________