Washburn 5244 , 1938

I love Jumbo-shaped guitars. In every size and of any make. Allways did, even more ,when combined with a sunburst coloured top. So, I could not resist and acquired this one, not yet knowing very much about the production history of Washburn guitars in the late 30ies..So far, this is what I found out..

A rare pre-war Washburn Style 5244, “Jumbo / Inspiration” , serial number 6XXX, distributed by Tonk Bros. Co. of Chicago, dating most likely from the late 1930s, approximately 1938–1939. Model and serial number are also marked internally, on the neckblock, corresponding with the original label inside.

This guitar comes from a particularly interesting period in Washburn history. Tonk Bros. did not manufacture these instruments themselves, but commissioned guitars carrying the Washburn name from outside manufacturers. Regal produced many earlier examples, while Gibson is documented as having manufactured Washburn guitars for Tonk Bros. during the late 1930s.

Importantly, Gibson shipping records are known to contain Style 5244 Washburns during the 1938–39 period, so Gibson manufacture is a genuine possibility for this particular model and period.

With the strings removed, the internal construction can be clearly inspected. Contrary to some earlier Regal-built Style 5244 examples that are documented with double-X bracing, this guitar does not have X-bracing. Instead, the guitar has a clearly visible transverse ladder-bracing system, with substantial braces running across the spruce top without intersecting to form an X.

This is a particularly interesting construction detail because transverse ladder bracing is documented on Gibson-built Washburn instruments made for Tonk Bros. in this period. Therefore, the bracing of serial number 6097 distinguishes it from known double-X-braced Regal examples and adds significant evidence in favor of possible Gibson manufacture.

The guitar also displays several exterior characteristics consistent with late-1930s Tonk/Washburn production: a large approximately 16-inch body, sunburst spruce top, mahogany back and sides, bound body, multi-ring soundhole decoration, tortoise-pattern pickguard, rosewood bridge and distinctive pearl Washburn headstock inlay.

The possibility of Gibson manufacture is supported by the period, body style, construction details, ladder bracing and the documented production of Style 5244 instruments by Gibson for Tonk Bros. However, this serial number has not yet been located in the surviving/published Gibson shipping records available to us, so it would be premature to describe the guitar as definitively Gibson-built.

The guitar retains considerable original character and honest playing wear consistent with its age. Particularly important for identification are the surviving Tonk Bros. paper label, Style 5244 designation, serial number, matching internal markings, and original internal construction.

It is an unusually interesting survivor from the transitional period of pre-war Washburn production and deserves further research, particularly comparison of serial number 6097 with the original Gibson/Tonk Bros. shipping records.

If you have any interesting information your welcome to contact me