This is one of the rarest and most unusual electric guitars and almost certainly one of the very first electric guitars ever seen in the UK. This guitar branded Premiervox is the "Export Model" of the Rickenbacker Bakelite "Model B" Hawaiian Guitar, which is in itself is a considerable rarity.
"Model B" Hawaiian Guitars where introduced in 1933/4. They where the company's second steel guitar model after the legendary "A"-model (aka. the “Frying Pan").
As on the “Frying Pan" the guitar features an electromagnetic "Horse-shoe-magnet"-pick-up, invented by Mr. Beauchamp. The company was issued a patent on the pick-up in 1937.
This instrument was assembled in England from parts supplied by Rickenbacher from California around 1935-6. Much of the instrument is the same as its American cousin, but there are fascinating differences as well. The pickup appears to be made of Rickenbacher components but wound in England to different specifications ending up in a slightly variant English wound Rickenbacher 1 1/2 in. horseshoe pickup. The original hard-wired output cable has been replaced with a standard 1/4in. jack fitting.
The rectangular hardshell case is English, with different fittings from the American version. The metal headstock tag reads "Premiervox Electric Guitar, British Made" which is obviously not exactly the case.
