April Birthdays 
This is a follow up to the many of you that attempted to help me identify my 60's vintage Japanese made Tokai/Moserite knockoff. And a special shout out to Tommy Alvarado for putting me in touch with Frank Meyers. If anyone is looking for information on Japanese made guitars, pedals and amps Frank is the go to guy. Check out his website listed at the end of the email. In any event, after a few emails back and forth Frank solved the mystery with the following reply.
Again thanks to Tommy and Frank.
Read On
Reply from Frank Meyers about my Tokai Guitar
OK man, I know this guitar model very well! This is a Tokai Hummingbird 100S from 1968. I actually met and interviewed the Japanese designer/engineer of this guitar when I was in Japan last year. Tokai entered the electric guitar boom sorta late, so all the Hummingbird models were only made for a few years. This particular model was designed as more of a stripped-down rock and roll guitar rather than a surf guitar (which was all the rage at the time). The 100S guitars had a much different neck profile, much thicker and rounded than the other Tokai guitars. These were also sold cheaper than the 200S and 230S Tokai Hummingbird guitars, but rather than being "student" or beginner guitars, they were marketed for a different style of music.
The only thing that doesn't look right are the tuners. I have quite a few of the old Tokai Hummingbirds, and none of them have these tuners. Now that doesn't mean they weren't stock (Tokai may have been experimenting with different vendors at the time), but I've never seen that style before. Here's a pic of my 100S, with different stock pickups. That's what I was talking about in the previous email. The 100S guitars were offered in two pickup variations.
All these old Hummingbirds were made at the Tokai factory in Hamamatsu, Japan. It's the same factory that makes current Tokai guitars! There's a lot of guitar building experience at that factory, and some of the employees have been there since the 60s! And if any of these guitars are in the states, they usually made it here from an American serviceman, like yours. These guitars were only sold in Japan at the time.
Cheers man!
Frank
drowninginguitars.com
