When Frederick Wilfer returned to his home town of Walthersgrun at the end of World War II, he realized that the American-controlled Sudetenland area was soon to fall under control of the Russian forces. With the help of the Americans, Wilfer succeeded in resettling a number of violin makers from Schonbach to Franconia (later in the district of Erlangen). Between 1945 and 1947, Wilfer continued to find homes and employment for the Schonbach violin makers.
In 1946, Wilfer founded the Framus production company, the company name an acronym for Franconian Musical instruments. As the company established itself in 1946, Wilfer drew on the knowledge of his violin builder from Schonbach to produce a range of musical instruments including violins and cellos. The new Framus company expanded out of its first couple of production buildings, eventually building a new factory in Bubenreuth in 1955.
The first Framus electric guitars appeared in the 1950s. Due to the presence of American servicemen stationed there, the influence of rock-'n-roll surfaced earlier in Germany than other European countries. As a result, German guitar builders had a head start on answering the demand caused by the proliferation of pop groups during the 1960s. Furthermore, as the German production increased, they began exporting their guitars to other countries (including the U.S.). The Framus company stayed active in producing acoustic and electric guitars, and electric basses until the mid-1970s.
In the 1970s, increased competition and serious price undercutting from firms in the Asian market had a serious effect on established companies. Unfortunately, one aspect was to force a number of firms into bankruptcy - and Framus was one of those companies in 1975. However, Wilfer did have the opportunity to watch his son, Hans-Peter Wilfer, establish his own company in 1982 (see Warwick). Warwick's success allowed Hans-Peter to re-introduce the Framus trademark to the European musical market in 1996. In honor of his father Frederick, Hans-Peter chose to use the world-famous Framus trademark when he began offering guitar models in 1996. Source: Hans Peter Wilfer, Warwick GmbH & Co. Music Equipment Kg; and Tony Bacon and Paul Day, The Guru's Guitar Guide.
Mandolins previously produced in Germany between the late 1940s and the mid-1970s. Electric and acoustic guitars are currently produced in Markneukirchen, Germany. Distributed by Warwick GmbH & Co. Music Equipment Kg of Markneukirchen, Germany since 1996, but they do not currently produce any mandolins. Previously distributed by the Philadelphia Music Company in Philadelphia, PA during the 1960s and Dana B. Goods of Ventura, CA between 1996 and 2007.

FRAMUS Mandolins Models

FRAMUS 6/3 Rosita Image

FRAMUS 6/3 Rosita

- flat back oval-shaped body, spruce top, maple back and sides, small oblong soundhole, celluloid binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tuners, fancy chrome tailpiece, large pickguard, available...

FRAMUS 6/4 Rita Image

FRAMUS 6/4 Rita

- flat back oval-shaped body, select spruce top, golden brown high-gloss maple back, maple sides, small oblong soundhole with ornamental rosette, decorative binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel...

FRAMUS 6/7 Rosita Image

FRAMUS 6/7 Rosita

- flat back oval-shaped body, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, kidney-shaped soundhole, celluloid binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tuners, fancy chrome tailpiece, large decorative pickgu...

FRAMUS 6/10 Anita Image

FRAMUS 6/10 Anita

- flat back oval-shaped body, select spruce top, highly flamed maple back and sides, small oblong soundhole, checkered body binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tuners, fancy chrome tailpiece, d...

FRAMUS 6/23 Mariguita Image

FRAMUS 6/23 Mariguita

- arched back pear-shaped Portugese-style body, select spruce top, maple back and sides, small oblong soundhole, regular body binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tuners, fancy chrome tailpiece,...

FRAMUS 6/27 Manuela Image

FRAMUS 6/27 Manuela

- arched back pear-shaped Portugese-style body, select spruce top, alternating back woods, mahogany sides, small oblong soundhole, ornamental body binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tuners, fa...

FRAMUS 6/36 La Paloma Image

FRAMUS 6/36 La Paloma

- rounded back lute-shaped Italian-style body, spruce top, fifteen rib flame maple bowl back, small oblong soundhole, checkered body binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tuners, fancy chrome tai...

FRAMUS 6/37 Mirabella Image

FRAMUS 6/37 Mirabella

- rounded back lute-shaped Italian-style body, spruce top, seventeen rib flame maple bowl back, small oblong soundhole, checkered body binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tuners, fancy chrome t...

FRAMUS 6/41 Graciella Image

FRAMUS 6/41 Graciella

- arched back pear-shaped body, arched select spruce top, arched maple back, maple sides, two bound cat's-eye soundholes, standard body binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tuners, white (early...

FRAMUS 6/42 Cinderella Image

FRAMUS 6/42 Cinderella

- arched back pear-shaped body, arched select spruce top, arched mahogany back, mahogany sides, two bound cat's-eye soundholes, celluloid body binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tuners, mfg. m...

FRAMUS 6/43 Radiant Image

FRAMUS 6/43 Radiant

- arched back pear-shaped body, arched select spruce top, arched rosewood back, rosewood sides, two bound cat's-eye soundholes, ornamental celluloid body binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tun...

FRAMUS 6/47 Texas Image

FRAMUS 6/47 Texas

- guitar-shaped body, arched top, arched back, two bound cat's-eye soundholes, decorative celluloid body binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tuners, raised pickguard, trapeze chrome tailpiece,...

FRAMUS 6/48 Nevada Image

FRAMUS 6/48 Nevada

- guitar-shaped body, arched select Spruce top, arched mahogany or maple back, mahogany or maple sides, two bound cat's-eye soundholes, decorative celluloid body binding, 18-fret rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome ni...

FRAMUS 6/49 Kansas Image

FRAMUS 6/49 Kansas

- guitar-shaped body, arched select Spruce top, arched rosewood back, rosewood sides, two bound cat's-eye soundholes, decorative checkered celluloid body binding, 18-fret bound rosewood fingerobard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nick...

FRAMUS 6/64 Melodia Mandola Image

FRAMUS 6/64 Melodia Mandola

- round back round body-style mandola, spruce top, alternating ribs of precious woods, oblong soundhole18-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, four-per-side chrome nickel tuners, decorative pickguard, standard tailpiece, available in...

FRAMUS 6/168 Electric Mandolin Image

FRAMUS 6/168 Electric Mandolin

- offset double cutaway guitar-shaped solidbody, four-per-side tuners, adj. bridge, covered tailpiece, large pickguard, single pickup, two mounted knobs, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. mid-1960s.