Rickenbacher Guitar

Dating to 1931, the Electro String Instrument Corporation (later Richenbaker International Corporation) was the first company to successfully mass-market electric guitars and set an enduring standard for pickup design. This Model 59 Hawaiian-style electric guitar was made by the company from the late 30s to early 50s. Though they made several stamped steel Hawaiian models, all came from the same mould and differed only in their features and finishes. The headstock decal on this guitar, rather than a metal plate, reflects the metal supply shortages faced by instrument companies during World War II.

Donated by David J. Glass, Pincher Creek, Alberta