This guitar was made by Zogbaum & Fairchild of New York, New York around 1865-1875. This is a six course (6x1) guitar with a spruce top, rosewood back and sides, and a mahogany neck with machine head. It bears a medallion:
Wm. B. TILTONS
IMPROVEMENT,
NEW YORK
Patented MARCH 4, 1856
ZOGBAUM & FAIRCHILD
NEW YORK.
William Tilton, inventor and musical instrument maker, began manufacturing instruments in New York in 1853. Tilton made new guitars and retrofitted other guitars with his improvements including his two guitar patents (U.S. Patent #10380, January 3, 1854, and U.S. Patent #14378, March 4, 1856). Around 1865, Zogbaum & Fairchild acquired the rights to manufacture guitars using Tilton’s improvements.
Ferdinand Zogbaum and Rufus Fairchild established their manufacturing and importing company in Charleston, South Carolina in 1845. By 1853, Zogbaum & Fairchild had relocated to No. 10 Maiden Lane in New York City.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.