Rickenbacker was a cutting-edge company from the beginning with many innovations, not the least of which was the first commercially produced electric guitar, preceding Gibson by a few years and Fender by well over a decade. They also commercially introduced neck-through-body construction, the electric 12-string, and even the double-coil pickup.

That's why I find it a bit ironic that they have a "retro" sort of image today. And speaking of pickups, the so-called "horseshoe" pickup on this and the Ken Roberts guitar is almost identical to the pickup that Rickenbacker put on their legendary 4000 and 4001 basses in the late 1950s.

*guitar nerd out* ^__^

87 years young! One wonders how many sets of fingers have plucked and pressed her strings in that time. :)

I love machines that look like they’ve been used for the purpose for which they were built.

This one has clearly seen some use. Well-cared-for, though. I'd love to just hold this one and see what she feels like in my hands.

Any work on provenance or just an anonymous donation?

I believe most of the instruments in this exhibit were on loan to the museum. Though I have no evidence to back up that statement.

The local art museum is very good about identifying the sources of pieces on display. That is not the case at this historical museum.

I’ve photographed this particular guitar before, so I’m guessing it is part of the museum’s permanent collection or on loan from a local collector.
https://www.furaffinity.net/view/20006180/

(* nods nods *)

The first two instruments I ever picked up at a music store were both Rickenbackers. Even the earliest ones were works of art.