Marma Mandolin

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Derk
Beiträge: 2
Registriert: Mi 19. Aug 2020, 18:33

Marma Mandolin

Beitrag von Derk »

Hello,

I recently bought a Marma mandolin. Now I'm very curious about the origin of this instrument. And I would like to know when, where and by who it has been build. Online I can find some information about Marma but not about the mandolin’s they produced.
Could somebody maybe tell me something about this instrument?

Thank you in advanced.
Regards,
Derk

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Taylor_T5-S
Beiträge: 65
Registriert: Di 09. Okt 2007, 19:53

Re: Marma Mandolin

Beitrag von Taylor_T5-S »

Hi Derk,

there is a bit of info about MARMA on this page:

http://www.schlaggitarren.de/home.php?t ... er&kenn=26

https://translate.google.de/translate?h ... 6kenn%3D26

So you could try asking Frank-Peter Dietrich: http://www.gitarre-laute.de/kontakt.html

Ralf

Udo Kretzschmann
Geigenbaumeister
Beiträge: 554
Registriert: Do 02. Feb 2006, 11:16
Wohnort: Markneukirchen
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Re: Marma Mandolin

Beitrag von Udo Kretzschmann »

Hello Derk,

At first I want to tell you some thoughts about time of making. At the label you can find a long row of letters and digits. That was a number for imprimatur, a license to print in old GDR- times. Each small piece of printed paper needed such permission! Here is the meaning of III/23/4: III = Saxony, 23 = Markneukirchen and 4 was the number of the printery, which one I couldn't determine not yet. Kr/321 was the actual license number and the last two digits show the year of grant the permission, thus 1954.

1974 Marma became a part of VEB Musima, so in my opinion your mandolin was made between 1954 and 1974.

I asked Rudolf Eßbach about mandolin makers, he himself worked a long time for Marma Company as guitar and banjo maker. He remembers three names: Richard Müller and Lothar Schneidenbach who already worked 1954, as Eßbach started working in Marma, and later Erich Voigt. I guess it is impossible to find out who of these three workers made your mandolin. Moreover a home worker with surname Schaller only made "Schachteln". This means a part of the box including back and rib cage (ribs, blocks and linings). So I think it is possible that your mandolin also was made based on the division of labor.

If this helps a little I would be glad to get feedback. And if you could find out more about this theme, please let us know!

Best greetings

Udo

Derk
Beiträge: 2
Registriert: Mi 19. Aug 2020, 18:33

Re: Marma Mandolin

Beitrag von Derk »

Hi Ralf and Udo,

Thank you both very much for your reply. The info gives an interesting background to the instrument.
The clarification of the code on the label is very interesting and I like the time indication of when the instrument was build and by who.
I will let it know if I find more information.

Best regards,
Derk

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