Jack Maskiell was an Australian soldier born in West Perth who served in World War II. He was captured and became a prisoner of war (POW) at Changi Prison in Singapore. While imprisoned, he and fellow POW Les O’Connell built a ukulele using coconut shells and salvaged materials. This instrument provided comfort and inspired their future in instrument making. After the war, Jack and Les established JMG Instruments (Jack Maskiell Guitars) in Perth. They patented a unique ukulele design featuring violin-style recessed sides. JMG ukuleles and guitars became popular, selling over 3,000 ukuleles and 700 guitars by 1950. Their instruments were distributed across Australia and Southeast Asia. Jack’s craftsmanship and resilience left a lasting legacy in Australian music history. Today, JMG instruments are rare and highly valued for their historical and musical significance.
This ukulele is one of the concert size models with 54cm length, possibly made of Queensland’s maple . It is still in great condition with no major damages or issues.