Private company

John C. Haynes & Co.

Musical instrument maker1

John C. Haynes & Co. was a significant American maker of a wide variety of musical instruments in the late 19th century. The company manufactured guitars sold under the Bay State, William B. Tilton, and Haynes Excelsior brand names. The company was set up by Oliver Ditson in 1865, and ceased guitar making operations around 1900, selling its facilities to the Vega Company.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

John Cummings Haynes (1829–1907)
Photo: Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

John C. Haynes & Co. was a significant American maker of a wide variety of musical instruments in the late 19th century. The company manufactured guitars sold under the Bay State, William B. Tilton, and Haynes Excelsior brand names. The company was set up by Oliver Ditson in 1865, and ceased guitar making operations around 1900, selling its facilities to the Vega Company.2

Sources

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