3414-A Merchant Court, Wilmington NC 28405
phone: (910) 793-5900
About Us
At Martin Custom Woodworking and Antique Restoration, providing highly-skilled, high-quality craftsmanship is part of carrying on a long family tradition in furniture making and restoration services. Curtis Martin, the owner, is the third generation of his family to be in antiques restoration, and he's been hanging around woodworking shops since he was 10.
Mr. Martin graduated from NC State University's Furniture Manufacturing and Management program, where he learned the latest skills and techniques in creating and restoring furniture. But he also carries on a family tradition that started when his grandfather, Edward Tibbles, served as a workshop apprentice in England. Mr. Tibbles came to America and worked for a time refinishing railroad cars before moving to Dayton, Ohio, to work with the Stoddard Dayton Co. putting varnish on wood panels on the sides of automobiles. He also restored and refinished pianos. Eventually, he opened his own shop in Dayton in the 1920s. Mr. Martin's father, J.C. Martin, married Mr. Tibbles daughter and joined the family business after getting out of the service.
After Mr. Tibbles died in 1955, J.C. Martin moved the family business to Greensboro, NC, where Curtis Martin, his son, began learning his craft. Later, after his training at NC
State University and working for a while with a major furniture manufacturer, Curtis Martin opened his own business and eventually moved with his wife Carol to Wilmington in April 1998 to continue growing their business and to raise a family.
After many successful years, Mr. Martin needed much more space in his shop and is now locating his business at 3414-C Merchant Court in Wilmington, NC. When asked how he is so successful, Mr. Martin points to the values he follows of excellent workmanship and attentive customer service--values he learned from a family history of providing clients with high-quality craftsmanship.
Edward Tibbles (above and right) stands in his furniture refinishing shop in Dayton, Ohio, in this photograph taken sometime during the 1920s. His grandson, Curtis Martin, is carrying on the family tradition with his company, Martin Custom Woodworking and Antique Refinishing.