Rickenbacker / Rickenbacher model 59 Lap Steel Guitar

The pre WWII lap steelRichenbachers are valuable collectibles, and theirpickups are considered by many lap steel players to be the best sounding ever made. Rickenbacher is credited with the first electric instrument,the lap steel "frying pan" model 22 in 1932. That model is veryrare,and expensive if you can find one available in half way decent shape. The model 59 was a student model; and sells generally for less than half the price of a frying pan. The model 59 was made from 1937-1943. I love the model 59for straight ahead blues. For western swing the Fender stringmasters, the deluxe 6, or 8; or Dual 8 Professionalsare much more highly regarded by most players. If Blues is your interest though; definitely consider the vintage Rickenbachers!
The model 59 Rickenbacher's bodywas stamped out ofsheet metal,and it has a horseshoe style wrap around the strings pickup. The fingerboard will have either black, or whitedots for fingerboard markers on the metal neck. Most have either a black,or an Ivory crinkled paint finish. In 1939 some had a shaded grey that fades to black at the edges ,that would be perhaps called a grey burst finish.
The model 59 has two control knobs for vol. and tone;except the original 1937 which only had the one vol knob. In 1938 the tone and volume knobs were on opposite sides of the fretboard, in 1939 the knobs were switched to both on same side.

1938 model 59
It is valued in excellent condition at a low of $700. to a high of $750. In absolute mint all original condition, its value would be over $1000. In OK condition,meaning scratches, and scrapes; but perfectly functional shape, I see these sell on average for $550 to $650. This is a bit higher than just a few years ago. There were no where as many Rickenbachers in general produced as some other name brands, and this fact should help in value.
The first question I ask a seller is the pickup the original? Then I ask ifthe electronics work OK? Do the vol/tone controls function without any scratchy noise. Somecrackly sound when turning the controlsis really no big deal to me. The potscould bea bit dirty, and spraying them out might totally solve the problem. They could have rusted out so much though that theymay soon fail, andthen wouldneed to be replaced. Ask if the sound cuts out totally when turning the tone knob. If it does? Chemicals from the insulation material surrounding the wire wrapped around the pickups magnet may have destroyed the pickup.Old pickups can go dead. Without the original pickup functioning, the lap steel is worthless to me.
Are the tuners still viable? Are they stiff, loose, or bent? Are the tuners buttons dried out, and yellow? They will then need replacement, and this is an easy do it yourself project. Allparts have exact replacements for a reasonable cost. My evaluations are as a player, if you are a collector, you should of course be more critical regards the parts being all original. Player, or collector; the pick up HAS to be original ; and it has to play loud and clear!

A little back ground.... Rickenbacher changed its name to Rickenbacker in 1949. It changed the size of the horseshoe pickup to 1