William Tilton was an American inventor and luthier who began manufacturing instruments in New York in 1853. Tilton made new guitars and retrofitted others with his patented improvements. These included his signature metal tailpiece to relieve the tension of the strings upon the soundboard and allow for lighter bracing.
| Specifications | |
| Date | c. 1865 |
| Location | New York City, USA |
| Length of Guitar | 940 mm |
| String Length | 625 mm |
| Upper Bout Width | 228 mm |
| Waist Width | 192 mm |
| Lower Bout Width | 302 mm |
| Side Depth at Waist | 93 mm |
| Soundboard: Spruce | Back: Brazilian rosewood | Sides: Brazilian rosewood | Details: Fitted with Tilton’s patented metal tailpiece | |
In or around 1865, musical-instrument manufacturer Zogbaum & Fairchild acquired the rights to produce guitars using Tilton’s improvements. The c. 1865 guitar in this collection was built at Z. & B.’s manufacturing facility located at 10 Maiden Lane in New York City. A metal patent plaque is visible through the soundhole with the inscription: “Wm. B. TILTON’S IMPROVEMENT, NEW YORK, Patented MARCH 4, 1856, ZOGBAUM & FAIRCHILD, NEW YORK.”
Tilton licensed his designs to other manufacturers as well—most famously to John C. Haynes & Co. of Boston. A Haynes & Co. catalogue from the 1870s shows seven Tilton models, from “No. 0” to “No. 6,” priced from $25 to $65, with a No. 3 (the Tilton in this collection) costing $45, about the same price as a Martin model 2-20 or 1-21 from the same period.
The c. 1865 Tilton has Brazilian rosewood back and sides with a mahogany neck. The spruce soundboard is aligned with the grain angled approximately 27 degrees off the vertical axis. This must have been for acoustical purposes, and because it would lessen the soundboard’s resistance against the pull of the strings, Tilton applied his patented silver-plated tailpiece and a wooden dowel between the two ends to relieve the tension on the soundboard.
Tilton’s tailpiece proudly displays an engraving of the silver medal he was awarded by the “American Institute of the City of New York for the Encouragement of Science and Invention” for his improvement to the guitar. Tilton offered to apply his tailpiece system to any guitar sent to his workshop. The resulting testimonials were numerous and impressive. Many prominent guitar dealers and teachers from all over the world had their guitars—Martins included—modified to much acclaim.
