Epiphone Vintage Collection – Pre-1957 Epiphone Instruments

I just discovered an interesting mini-site today published by Epiphone – “The Vintage Collection” which boasts The World’s Largest Collection of Pre 1957 Epiphone instruments.

Back in March 2007, Epiphone acquired the entire collection previously owned by the late Jim Fisch and L.B. Fred.

This impressive collection contains hours of taped and transcribed interviews with famous Epiphone players such as Les Paul and Johnny Smith, hours of transcribed interviews of the Stathopoulo family, founders of Epiphone, the original manuscript and research materials for the book “Epiphone, the House of Stathopoulo,” co-authored by the late owner of the collection and most notably, an assortment of historically significant Epiphone guitars, banjos, lap steels and amplifiers.

Epiphone are progressively making detailed information available on each item in the collection – so far they have uploaded records for the following:

1910 Harp Guitar
1923-1925 Banjo/Mandalin
1928 Model 4 Flat Top
1930 Recording 4
1930 Style 4 Archtop
1932 Triumph Masterbilt
1932 Broadway
1933 Zenith Masterbilt
1934 Tudor
1934 Spartan
1935 Ideal Zenith

Each instrument record contains pictures from many angles and close ups of key parts like the bridge and head stock, in addition to a full list of technical specifications.

Here are a couple of pictures of the 1930 Recording 4: