Location of original Electro String Factory?

darby gaines · Post by **darby gaines** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:02 am

Hi all--

I wonder if anyone knows the address of the old Electro String factory in Los Angeles--the Rickenbacker plant prior to the move to Santa Ana? I live here in LA, and I thought it would be interesting to visit the location (assuming there's a building still standing?). I've searched around the internet and haven't been able to turn up an address or pictures, although I'm sure they're out there.

I'm afraid my own rickenbacker is from the santa ana plant, so it won't exactly be a homecoming-type situation, but still. Kinda interesting?

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:05 am

The address may be in the Richard Smith book; I think it was on Western Avenue maybe down in the area north of Royal Palms Beach, perhaps?

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 8:54 am

That, or maybe the Bacon Day book has a photo of an invoice or something IIRC.

darby gaines · Post by **darby gaines** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 12:59 pm

Good idea--I'll take a look. Thanks!

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:27 pm

Welcome aboard the RRF, Eli.
I have sent you a PM.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 1:42 pm

Strange. My post disappeared. So once again . . .

6071 S. Western Ave
Los Angeles

Last I heard it was a dental supply house. The building was divided long ago and I can't say whether it's all still there. The south half was the actual guitar factory with wood and finish shops, while the north portion was the heavy tool and die shop where all of our metal and plastic parts were made alongside various other bits, including National guitars.

The hemlock wood fence behind the factory, from which Harry Watson took a board to build the frying pan, is long gone according to Matthew Hill, who documented this place as well as Adolph's various houses.

8mileshigher · Post by **8mileshigher** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 2:51 pm

johnhall wrote: The hemlock wood fence behind the factory, from which Harry Watson took a board to build the frying pan, is long gone ...

I had not heard that story about the hemlock fence being the wood source for the original Frying Pan before !!

That's interesting !

jps · Post by **jps** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 3:26 pm

johnhall wrote:6071 S. Western Ave
Los Angeles

Well, I was only off by 18.27 miles due North!

Rickissippi · Post by **Rickissippi** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 3:47 pm

darby gaines wrote:I'm afraid my own rickenbacker is from the santa ana plant

Nothing to be afraid of on that one!

Welcome to the forum. Interesting thread - I, too, learned something. Never would have known the frying pan was from the wood fence in the back.

darby gaines · Post by **darby gaines** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 2:40 am

Ah ok, off the 110 in South Central. About 15 miles from my house, not too far. For some reason I pictured it closer to downtown, but that makes more sense. I hope to go take a look soon--thanks very much for the address there.

Mine is from the '00's, but the '50's instruments are interesting to me--I don't see myself owning one, but I do appreciate the horseshoe pickups and the gold pickguards. Snappy.

collin · Post by **collin** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:27 am

John - glad you guys aren't in south central anymore. Just sayin.

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:09 am

collin wrote:John - glad you guys aren't in south central anymore. Just sayin.

It was a thriving industrial area in the 1930's but things change.

collin · Post by **collin** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 4:28 pm

johnhall wrote:
collin wrote:John - glad you guys aren't in south central anymore. Just sayin.
It was a thriving industrial area in the 1930's but things change.

Yes, definitely. Along with many other areas around there (Compton, Watts, Rancho Dominguez) - they were all open industrial areas with some quiet suburbs around them in the 1950s and very early 1960s. Things do change alright, though it's not as bad today as it was 15-20 years ago.

darby gaines · Post by **darby gaines** » Fri Oct 26, 2012 8:22 pm

Not sure exactly when, but in the next few months I'll try to drive over and take a look. Maybe take some pictures if there's interest.

paologregorio · Post by **paologregorio** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 12:03 am

Google it. I did.

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