C.F. Martin & Co, in the early 20th century, made a number of guitars in their factory for different retail stores, most of them on the east coast, that were essentially identical or nearly so in production to their own line of production guitars. Most famously of these was the Ditson Company (Oliver Ditson & Co) where the dreadnought guitar was invented.

In the early 1920’s, Wurlitzer, then a Cincinnati based retail chain selling their own pianos, organs, and other musical accoutrements, ordered, over a few years, a batch of only about 300 Martin guitars, stamped with the name “Wurlitzer” (later with the Martin logo as well).

This 1923 2085 model, essentially the same as a period Martin 0-18, was in an earlier batch of these guitars, not bearing any other identifying Martin marks besides the serial number (Martin Serial #18372) placing this squarely in 1923 from the Martin factory.

Like all 0-18s from this era, it’s got a wide 1 ⅞ nut coupled with a bridge spacing just a hair under 2 ⅜, as well as the usual 24 ¾ scale length. The neck, while a nice full V, is thinner than you’d expect, and relatively the same thickness at its zenith as a modern Martin neck, just with sharper shoulders from the V carve.

The Adirondack top is lovely, with wider grain than you’d expect from this era, and no cracks. There is some pick wear on the treble side from decades of being lovingly played. The mahogany back, sides, and neck, are all in great condition as well, with normal wear and buckle rash for being 102 years old.

The bridge has been replaced with a newer Brazilian replacement to match the Brazilian board (replete with its original frets and Ebony nut), as well as the bridge plate. This seems to have taken the spot of an earlier, oversized replacement. This guitar is structurally sound, no cracks or cleats. Has had a neck reset sometime in the past, as well as a pickup that’s been removed since, and the hole for the endpin is enlarged and filled with a shim to fit the original endpin. Original tuners.

This guitar has as open and alive a sound as you’d expect for its age and heritage, and is an excellent fingerstyle picker.

Comes with a modern single 0 sized case.