1960-61 HOFNER FLEDERMAUS (BAT) ELECTRIC GUITAR

COURTESY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR IN THE USA :

The top rim of the guitar's body, showing the ventilation holes required when a built-in amplifier is installed.

The lower body rim, showing the cover of the battery compartment for use when a built-in amplifier is installed.

The battery compartment is empty, indicating that an amplifier or active circuits have not been installed into the guitar.

An empty body cavity, where the built-in amplifier and speaker was installed in some earlier Fledermaus guitars.

Is this a body/serial number? Is it # 11 or Roman Numeral II (2)? The Fledermaus originally in the Benker Collection has what appears to be a Roman Numeral XI  in the same location.

PHOTOS FROM THE FLEDERMAUS' EARLY LIFE:

The guitar was purchased new in Germany during the early 1960s by the present owner's father, who was then serving in the US Army based in Germany. These photos, taken in the army barracks and dating from around 1964, are a reminder of those uncertain days during the Cold War in Europe.