In 1900, Herman Carlson Levin opened the ‘Herman Carlssons Instrumentfabrik’ factory in Gothenberg, Sweden. Their instruments were of a high quality, winning several awards in Europe. In the 1950s, some of these instruments were introduced into America, under the brand name Goya.
The instrument above is a 1961 Levin Model 315-M2 with two same-height Model 2000 pickups and translucent unnumbered ‘top hat’ style knobs as on DeArmond amps of that period.
The company was acquired by CF Martin in 1973, but before that, in the 1950s and 1960s, they produced a range of archtop electrics which were fitted as standard with DeArmond pickups.
Two pages from a 1968 Levin catalog are shown below:
The three guitars shown above are:
Models 340 and 350, each with 2 No. deArmond Model 2000 pickups,
Model 360, with 2 No. DeArmond Model 41 pickups,
The electric Model 335/M2 guitar shown above was fitted with 2 No. DeArmond Model 2000 pickups,
This Levin guitar Model 315-M2, dated 1962, is fitted with two Model 2000 pickups finished in well-worn gold with black coil formers. Note the difference in height between the two pickups. Also note that the knobs are by DeArmond, as used at that time in their tube amps (photo copyright www.vintage-guitars.se).
The standard DeArmond Model 2000 pickup, fitted in the Levin models 315, 340 and 350, as shown in their 1968 catalog. This pickup was produced in either chrome or gold-finished metalwork and a white or black coil former.
The Model 41 pickup was fitted in this Levin model 360, as shown in their 1968 catalog. See catalog page above.
This surface-mounting version of DeArmond’s Model 210 attachable pickup which uses the same metal housing as the Model 2000 but with a central pole-piece arrangement and former design very similar to the Model 210 flat-top attachable pickup, fitted in another Model 335 M2 guitar.
1960-1964 levin 320 M2 archtop with two gold/black Model 2000 pickups and fluted ‘top hat’ style knobs (B0616 photo copyright Clem at Woodytunes Ltd., Hong Kong).
1959 Levin 325 M2 with two same-height gold-plated surface-mounting versions of DeArmond’s Model 210 attachable pickup with white coil-formers. Knobs are transparent, cylindrical, screwfixed, with gold-finished circular indent (B0615 photo copyright Marco at MjP Guitars, Kerava, Finland).