Back when Gretsch Guitars were out of production, Duke Kramer, who had run Gretsch in their prime time was selling some of the old unused , new old stock parts to a small number of vintage guitar dealers, including some who would shortly after be the 13 guys who helped the Gretsch Company decide which models would be reissued in around 1989 to 1990. I was one of them, & I had bought quite a few parts that were left over from the 1950s & 1960s. I am just starting to list some of the parts, but I have a large box of parts, including Filter-Tron covers, plastic frames, ONE 1950s Gretsch 6120 faceplate, as pictured, & I need to dig out the box of the metal & plastic parts soon! At 70 years old, it is time to sell my hundreds of old Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, & Rickenbacker parts!
I also have several of what appear to be the 1960s fiber headstock overlays, although I could not get a definite answer from guitar historian Walter Carter which years thought he could pin them down to, & that was several years ago. .
I only have ONE 1950s one!
This one faceplate is at least 60 years old, no cracks, & never used!