1950 Fender Broadcaster
One of guitar maker Leo Fender's most impressive and iconic instruments, the Broadcaster was an updated, two-pickup configuration of the earlier Esquire. Just a year after it was introduced, Fender was contacted by Gretsch and asked to change the name of his instrument as it bore too close of a similarity to their Broadkaster drum kit. Fender obliged and the guitar was renamed the Telecaster. This guitar was manufactured as the Broadcaster from October 1950 to January 1951 until the name was changed. For a time the Broadcaster/Telecaster featured a blank space where the model name usually was placed, and these guitars are known as "No-Casters." It is thought that roughly 200 Broadcasters were manufactured.