The "Bitting Special"
From 1916 to 1918, Oliver Franklin Bitting, a musician and music teacher born on October 19, 1873, ordered mandolins and mandolas, as well as guitars, with a beautiful dark stained finish on curly maple.
Bitting lived at the time in South Bethlehem, PA, only 10 miles from the Martin factory.
Oliver was born in South Bethlehem, married 23 year old Emma (Emma Jane Wetzel) in February, 1893, then moved to Steinway Village, part of Long Island City, now known as Astoria in Queens, New York with their three children.
Bitting lived on Albert Street, now called 41st. Street, named after Albert Steinway, son of the founder of Steinway Pianos.
Oliver moved back to South Bethlehem after the death of his wife, living as a "hosteler" by 1910, and with his sister's family in January, 1920. He married Rose Hester in February, 1920, then moved with his new wife to St. Petersburg, Pinellas, Florida, where he lived to age 95.
1916 Martin Bitting Special Mandolin
Serial #5003
Stamped December, 1916
Shipped January 18, 1917
Bitting Special Mandolin and Mandola
Sides and back curly maple rich red color
Top spruce rich brown color
Binding like No. 2 ukulele -- Celluloid edge with
one 20 gauge in front, plain celluloid edge in back
Plain roseood joint in back
Celluloid heel
Ivory nut
Otherwise regular Style A
The initial order of two "Bitting Special" mandolins was shipped on September 27 of 1916.
These original two "Bitting Special" mandolins were made of stained mahogany, not curly maple.
These two samples were followed nearly five months later by an order of eight "Bitting Special" mandolins made of curly maple, stamped late in 1916, and shipped on January 18 of 1917.
This order included #5003 show above.
Five curly maple 0-18 guitars, and one "Bitting Special" Guitar were shipped at the same time.
The Bitting Special Guitars combined features borrowed from multiple styles of Martin guitars with features unique to the Bitting Special Mandolins.
Bitting Special Guitar
Size 0
Material, color and bindings like Bitting Special Mandolin 19 frets
Rosette Style 18
Positions and pins Style 21
Celluloid heel
Ivory nut
Brass machines
Gut strings
Plain black stripe in back
Ebony endpiece
Bitting guitars were shipped on three dates, not two as reported elsewhere, with one additional guitar taken in person.
January 18, 1917
Note that the first five guitars are less expensive 0-18 guitars. These are made with maple, but are not Bitting "Special Style" Guitars.
5 Maple Gtr 0-18
1 Gtr Maple Special Style
April 12, 1917
4 Gts Bitting Special #12566, 68, 69, 70
April 13, 1917
1 Gtr Bitting Special #12567 "taken in person"
October 6, 1917
4 Gtr Bitting Special #12747, 12748
By the time he was back in South Bethlehem, he went by the name "Ollie Franklin Bitting", as we see on his Draft Board registration card!
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