Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I was curious about the accuracy of the Richard Smith production numbers, so I added them up for 1966 and compared to our Registry.

Smith Book 1966
4368 US instruments
227 Export
4595 Total (Total does not include lap steels and some other instruments such as 6000)
4800 High number in registry.

There may have been a instrument for every number.

Less than 5% of instruments are accounted for in the registry. There are a lot of closet classics out there!

David: Thanks for the analysis.

The Register has catalogued more than 10,000 instrument since 1998 and as you have noted we have found just the tip of the ice-berg over the past decade.

Beyond measures of quantity, the Register has given us a fascinating look at the quality of these instruments over RIC's history. It continues to be a source of great joy for me as we add to it each and every day. Clearly there is so much more to be done in compiling this important history.

xcoyle wrote:Less than 5% of instruments are accounted for in the registry.

for 1966: 'total in register' / 'high number in register'
212/4800 = 4.4%.

This figure of around 4% of the total production also corresponds to the same proportion found in the registry throughout the 1980s shown in this thread. It looks like the registry is fairly consistant over the years, and therefore a highly valuable tool. Good work Peter and everyone who has added to it!