Henry Schatz guitar

[Joe Adams]

I have a parlor guitar, with a paper label glued to the inside of the guitar at the base of the neck joint
it is a printed label, sez, "Made by Henry A Schatz, Nazareth PA...

there is one other pic on line of a Schatz guitar with the same label, same fonts pasted on the back of the guitar in the sound hole [http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/435105480_e89698074d.jpg?v=0]

my guitar is in excellenct condition attached are some phone photos
My problem is the absolute lack of information about Schatz available online beyond the fact that he was a partner of CF Martin who convinced Martin to move to Pennsylvania. I have heard that he ended up in Boston at a later date.
I would live any info anyone can share that may help with dating and verification
Thanks

Joe A

[Ned Knepp]

Hi Joe,
I can't tell you anything about the maker but It's a nice looking little guitar. The machine heads are not like any I've ever seen. Have you had them out of the head? I'm wondering if there is a patent date or number on the heads somewhere that might help you with dating.

Ned

[Joe Adams]

HI Ned
thanks for the reply
I opened up the headstock some years ago out of curiosity and didn't see any markings that might date it....
one guy who looked it over in Philly years ago was so excited he called another dealer about it, then offered me 200 bucks for the guitar. I sneered in his general direction.
Yes it is a nice little guitar.. much louder than you might expect from a little parlor guitar, with good response across the entire range of the instrument... I really like it for ragtime finger picking..strung only with low tension silk/steel and nylon strings..
joe

[Ned Knepp]

Joe,
I got out Mike Longworth's book "Martin Guitar's, A History" to reference some dimensions for another thread. While I had it out, I checked to see what Longworth has to say about Schatz.

There isn't too much but it seems that Schatz and Martin were friends in Saxony. According to records in Pennsylvania, Schatz bought property there before Martin and, as you pointed out, is probably the reason Martin moved there. Schatz bought his land in 1835. Longworth says that Schatz was there for most of the time that Martin was in New York. He is also know to have been in business in Boston at some point.

In the spring of 1839, Martin sold his stock in musical merchandise to the firm of Ludecus and Wolter at 320 broadway then moved to Nazareth. Longworth says that the address of 320 Broadway appears on the label of Ludecus & Wolter in a Martin & Shaltz guitar that is owned and displayed by Martin now. He says that that firm handled "the Martin agency around 1840".

There doesn't appear to be any record of Martin and Schaltz ever having a legal contract but Longworth seems sure that Schaltz worked with Martin after that firm moved to Penn. He says that there was a lot of correspondence between them in their early years and that they were the best of friends. Martins move to Nazareth brought him close enough to Schaltz that the two could work together and Longworth assumes that they worked closely then. From his timeline it seems that this is why the labels of Martin and Schalt appeared

The last reference I've found so far says that ;

"Previously Shaltz had made a few guitars for sale at the New York store, another possible reason for both names appearing on the label. "

I don't know what it means that your guitar's label only mentions Schaltz and not Martin. MAYBE this is because your guitar is one of the earlier ones that Shaltz made before he started working directly with Martin in Nazareth. I really can't say. To stir things more, technically Shaltz doesn't seem to have actually lived in Nazareth. According to Longworth, the property Shaltz purchased was next to Nazareth in "Millgrove:, now known as Aluta, so the label marking the guitar as being made in "Nazareth" may mean that it was made in the Martin facilities which, of course, means it couldn't have been made earlier. It's quite a puzzle.

I really think you have your work cut out but it seems like a fun search. I hope I helped you on the way a bit. I'll take a look at a couple of other references I have but I think this one is the best or stuff like this.

Ned

[Greig Hutton]

Joe

 

I would still like to talk to you about your Schatz guitar. Can you please call me at 519-472-8851 or send me your phone number to [e-mail]

 

Thanks 

 

Greig Hutton

[Tim Mace]

...or whether it may have been a slot head at one time..just guessing.

[Joe Adams]

Hi Tim
doesn't have any evidence of a headstock repair or major change.
the face of the head stock is solid and the gear sit in a routed space on the back, if my memory serves me right
I'll have to check it out and post a pick to satisfy curiousity

[Greig Hutton]

I may have some info for you and would like to talk to you about it. Call me at 519-472-8851 or send me your number and I will call you.

By the way, a very interesting headstock!

Regards

Greig Hutton

[Ned Knepp]

Hi Greig,
I don't own one of these but I'm interested too. Isn't there some way you can post it for us in the forum? That's pretty much what the forum is for anyway.

[Peter Szego]

Hello Joe,

I also own a Schatz Nazareth guitar. It has a heel detail very similar to yours but the other details are more like a Martin "Stauffer" style guitar. I also own a later Schatz Boston guitar with a more modern profile similar to your guitar.

I'd like to compare guitars with you but, like Greig, would prefer to do so off-line. I can be reached at 908-458-5524 or I'd be pleased to call you if you send me your number.

Peter

[Donald A. Fortune]

Hi Joe - Although I do not have any info on your guitar I must say it does look interesting--

what does the back of the head stock look like?? thoes tuners look interesting--

Peace, Donald

[Howard Klepper]

Looks authentic to me, and very nice.  The bridge may be a later replacement, but it's very hard to see.  Focusing the camera on the guitar would be good.

 

Post this under "Vintage Corner" on The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum.  That's where a bunch of experts hang out.

[Greig Hutton]

Joe

 

Is it possible to get a few more pictures of this guitar?

 

Can you give me a call at 519-472-8851.

 

Greig Hutton