Fred Martin

[John Cohen]

What can you all tell me about Fred Martin?  I've read that he was a prominent banjoist and teacher in Boston, MA in the 1890s.  I've also read that he had an endorsement deal with Fairbanks who made him his own line of banjos less ornate (and more affordable) banjos to sell to his students.  These banjos have the "Fred Martin: Maker" brass nameplates instead of the typical Fairbanks plates.  I've got a fully embellished No. 5 electric neck- hardly from an affordable instrument- with a Fred Martin plate.  Has anybody else come across another Fred Martin No. 5?