Rare 1939 Aluminum Double Bass by G. A. Pfretzschner, faux birdseye maple
By Alcoa Aluminum
Located in Buffalo, NY
Extremely Rare 1939 Aluminum Double Bass by G. A. Pfretzschner,, ,Retains its original faux birds eye maple finish..minor bumps and bruises,, scratches.dents etc.. Age appropriate wear. Newer strings ,,bridge and tail pin.. Also added and included, a Fishman full circle pick up..The bass plays and sounds amazing,, Hand delivery avail to New York City or anywhere en route from Buffalo NY Aluminum double basses are rare today, and little is known about them. Not much information can be found on the very earliest possible makers…and even the companies that we can confirm made them do not know much, if anything about them. There are various different legends about who, when and where they were made. Perhaps this listing will prove to be as much educational as it is interesting. First some facts: In 1891 Alfred Springer of Cincinnati, Ohio, was awarded a patent for an aluminum violin. There are no known double basses to have been produced from the Springer workshop. In 1894 the Aluminum Musical Instrument Company of Ann Arbor, Michigan offered everything from violins to zithers. By 1898 however, the company was no more. We are not aware of any double basses being made by this workshop and given the short amount of time they were in business, it seems unlikely, but as the range of instruments they produced was so vast, it is still probable. During the 1930?s (the Aluminum Double Bass Patent was issued in 1932) the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) produced aluminum upright basses (From 1929 To 1934). The entire body, neck and scroll were made out of seamlessly welded aluminum and were often covered with a convincing (from 20 feet!) faux wood grain finish. Information suggests that only 500 double basses were made. To find one of these basses today with it’s original finish in pristine condition is rare as most are well worn or have been sandblasted The USA was not alone though in the production of Aluminum instruments. The G.A. Pfretzschner workshop of Markneukirchen, Germany was also producing a number of aluminum cellos...
1930s German Industrial Vintage Alcoa Aluminum Furniture
Aluminum, Brass














