Cincinnati, Ohio
Louis Sutz (Hand Made)

Metal, wood
ca. 1910-1920
Length: 36 in, Width: 12.5 in, Depth: 3.75 in
Strings – Lutes – Guitars

Paper seal attached inside:  Louis Sutz / MAKER // Hand-Made Violins, / Mandolins, Guitars, / Zithers, Etc. /  No. 1616 Vine Street. /   CINCINNATI, O.

A handmade six string parlor guitar by Louis Sutz (1862-1942) of Cincinnati Ohio.  This acoustic guitar has a spruce flat top, a mahogany back and sides with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and bone trimming around the edges on top.  There are no cracks or splits, only signs of usage from strumming.  All original with no repairs.

Sutz was born in Baden-Württemberg, Germany but emigrated to the USA in 1880 at the age of 19. He started his musical instrument business at 1616 Vine Street in Cincinnati around 1883.  He dealt in violins, mandolins, zithers, and guitars.  In later years he was helped in the business by his sons John (who later became a minister in Hannibal, Ohio), William (who died young) and Louis (who later became an organist at the Third Protestant Memorial Church). Louis Sutz retired in 1931 and died some years later in 1942 at the aged of 79.