Bellphonic

The Lifton Manufacturing Co., located at 40-46 West 20th Street in New York, has an interesting history. Established in 1918, the company initially gained recognition for its comprehensive line of instrument cases, advertised as early as 1922. These cases catered to a variety of musical instruments, including violins, banjos, banjo-mandolins, tenor-banjos, clarinets, oboes, saxophones, trumpets, coronets, and flutes. However, it did not include cases for guitars or mandolins at that time​​.

By 1927, Lifton Mfg. Co. was associated with the Bellphonic brand, as indicated in an entry dated April 15, 1927​

​. In 1935, the company expanded its range to include guitar cases specifically designed to fit Martin guitars, reflecting a diversification in its product line. The quality of Lifton cases was noted for their superior craftsmanship and materials, which contributed to the company’s reputation in the industry​​.

The company was started by Maurice Lifton and continued to operate under the family’s management until its closure in late 1973. Despite the closure, the Lifton family retained ownership of the name and copyrights associated with the company​​.