Rick, I have two guitars. One is a Maton Steel-string with the usual closed in tuners that go with a solid headstock. The only markings is a very ornate script "M" which is Maton's trade mark. The other guitar is a LaPatrie which is a nylon string and has the typical open tuners found on most classical guitars with slotted headstocks. The only markings are the ornate engravings that this type of tuner seems to always have. Since both guitars are fairly new, I can probably find out from the manudacturer what brand tuners are used. (You might know about the LaPatrie.) I was not only trying to identify my tuners; but to learn if there is a way to identify them on a guitar that I am just casually looking at.

You say there are about 5 brands of importance. Is there any information published describing the characteristics of each of these? If there are only five, It seems possible to identify by elimination.

Murray