Hi Jeff,
From the info you have given here, your Ric may be post-WWII. First, measure the pickup magnets: pre-war are 1.5", postwar are 1.25" Does it have a tailpiece or do the strings go through the body? The pre-war Rics don't have a "cover plate around the pickup." Also, on the pre-war steels pickup height is adjusted with knurled nuts, on the postwar, by two phillips head screws. The "ch" spelling was changed to "ck" in 1950. That patent No. tells us it was made after 8/10/37.
There are other ways to date your steel. Give me a call at 352-375-5461 and we can talk more--I'm too slow on the keyboard. Daytime is best.
Also, I have a metalsmith friend in McIntosh who can make you a new cover plate. He made one for me and it's beautiful. Are yours really stainless? Try scratching on the back side--mine are chrome plated brass. But here's a bit of bad news, Jim the metalsmith is about to leave on extended vacation and won't return until October. Getting a plate hand made is probably your only alternative as it would be a major miracle to find an old one.
Good luck and enjoy your Ric.
[This message was edited by Bob Stone on 29 June 2000 at 10:40 AM.]
