By the early 1960s, Matsumoku had acquired new mills, lathes and specialized presses and began to increase musical instrument production. Several of Matsumoku’s early archtop guitars survive, most owing their basic designs to Hofner, Framus, and Gibson. However, as other Japanese companies were producing similar instruments, Matsumoku set out to distinguish itself by producing high quality acoustic and electric archtop guitars. Modest classical guitars, small steel stringed acoustic guitars, and violins were built and marketed in the mid-1960s. In the early-1960s (or mid-1950s), Matsumoku began to look into other woodworking markets because several subcontract work of the Singer had been moved into the Philippines and, as it had on its staff several skilled luthiers, finally ventured into guitar and violin production in 1963. Matsumoku also built amplifier cabinets and wooden cabinets for audio and television makers. Matsumoku Industrial was contracted to build its sewing machine cabinets, and in 1951 Matsumoku became a partially owned subsidiary of Singer, Japan. On the other hand, shortly after the World War II (1939-1945), the Singer Corporation had established a Japanese subsidiary, Singer Sewing Machine Company, Japan, and set up production facilities in Nagoya.

It was a family owned woodworking business that specialized in building tansu and butsudan. In 1951, Matsumoku was founded as “Matsumoto Mokko” (In English: Matsumoto Woodworking Company) by Mr. Matsumoku Industrial was a Japanese manufacturing company once existed in Matsumoto city, Japan, between 1951 – 1987. Established in 1951 as a woodworking manufacturer of various items but is best known as a manufacturer of high quality guitars and bass guitars including some Epiphone and Aria guitars. Please go to their site and donate, so they can keep up their good work. That being said the logo on the headstock does look like a Japanese Epiphone logo of that period.From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia updatet. However, I'm not sure that they were offered with Bigsby tailpieces or natural finishes. All 1980's Epiphone Riviera and Casino models were made in Japan.

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