As others have mentioned in these threads, very interesting to learn the background of these guitars, (and no doubt there are many other makes out there that might have similar stories, when I remember the pawn shop guitars I owned long ago, with names that probably no longer exist). I still own a Mansfield copy of a Gibson SG, with 2 chrome humbuckers. It looks just like the model 2354 in the 1975 catalogue from Peate Music that can be found elsewhere when Googling info about Mansfields, right down to the deep purple finish, except mine is a hardtail, no tremolo/vibrato tail piece. I bought it brand new at a music store in Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1972, for about $225 or so if memory serves, which I think was a bit less maybe than the suggested retail price at the time.

As a couple of posts here have said, the quality is generally quite good, mine sounds great under any amplified circumstance, but the only weak point(s) are the tuners - way too much slop and free-play in them. I have never changed anything on it, and was thinking of putting some higher-end tuners into it now that I recently dragged it out of storage, but now having read that they could be worth a little bit to someone collecting, maybe I should leave it as original. Then again, I like it enough that I probably won't part with it anyway, so new tuners might just go on it.

There is only the "Mansfield" name plate on the front head stock, no serial number or anything else, though maybe there is something under the neck plate, or written on the neck itself under there, however I have never disassembled it, so maybe I will do that, and also pull out the pups so see if there is anything elsewhere to help narrow down it's history.........

Anyway, thanks to everyone who contributes to these posts, it's great to have some sources of info and conversation!