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Martin uke montage.

Largely forgotten now, the "We Want Ukes" protests of the early 1930s peaked with a spectacle in New York. Thousands turned out, waving signs that read: "We Want Ukes," all hoping to strum out a tune, to end the ban of their beloved stringed instruments. Why ukuleles were banned remains a mystery.

Ukulele string band neatly arranged and all set to play the same opening chord. Circa 1920's

Frederic Joseph Ash (15 May 1861 - 1 January 1929) was a photographer with a studio at Lytham Road, South Shore, Blackpool. This photo was taken in his studio around 1920.

During the past few weeks there has been a phenomenal demand for ukuleles. The musical qualities of the Martin ukulele have become more and more sophisticated and appreciated. Discriminating players are using the best models we offer.
Our motto is: 'The Finest Kind of Work'.
HARRY HUNT — 1916

Martin 5K ukulele sales 2006 - 2022

Early big surge (227 units, ~59% of reissues).
2008 onward: Output falls to single digits boutique‑level.
2022: Small rise, still modest.

✨ Takeaway: Early production met decades of pent‑up demand; afterward Martin kept output minimal, preserving rarity.

Made in the 1920's by Martin’s master craftsmen, this style 3 Ditson ukulele, carries a century of music and memory.
#VintageUkulele, #MartinGuitars #MusicHistory

A sunny day and a ukulele. Perfect. Circa 1950's.

A set of four koa ukuleles. Nice.

Ukulele gals — Circa 1920's

Martin ukulele sales 1915 — 1950

Two very nice old ukuleles. A Ditson style 3 on the left and a Martin style 5 on the right. Both made by C.F.Martin in the 1920's and still sounding great today. A testament to the workmanship of the past.

Old Martin style 3 ukulele. This one from around 1920.
Mahogany body; original case. Beautiful.

A group of girls listen to music and play ukuleles.
Circa 1920

Keep on.......strumming

Cliff Edwards imagined in the studio

Prototype for YouTube. Circa 1999

Lovely old Martin ukulele. A style 3 from around 1918-1920

Beautiful Martin ukulele

Sandy Penderey seems to prefer the sound of the ukulele to the sound of waves at Miami beach, 1954.

Ukulele beach gal, Sandy on the beach, 1954.

Ah yes, the good old days...

Old Martin ukulele from 1918 waiting to be played on the beach at Bali.

Early 1950’s. A pharmacy where the salesman sings and plays ukulele. Woman with dog doesn't seem to be impressed?

Here’s Lily Fitzgerald. She's holding a Martin style 2 ukulele. Photo taken circa 1956. Looks like a studio setting?

Martin ukulele

Simple Martin ukulele. This one is made from koa, a tree found only in Hawaii. It’s a style 3 model, one of their more ‘professional’ models. This one from the 1920’s. Lovely!

Kathleen Martyn - 1922

Rear side of vintage photo - 1922

Original image of the photo as it appeared in a newspaper in 1922.

British-born Kathlene Martyn was a singer and actress. From 1920 to 1926 she performed with the Ziegfeld Follies in New York and in the late twenties she worked as a film actress in several productions.
The ukulele is a Martin/Ditson style 2 ukulele.
Rare photo is dated: November 17, 1922.