According to this video posted by Warwick it's an in-house invention......
 

 
I've alway's thought it was an Alembic creation.
It sure is a great thing but who should get credit?

Alembic.  At the time, Beverly told me that my bass (811952) was the prototype for it (in the shop in '82 for some work), and that the idea was Entwistle's.  There's been some discussion on this site about it, and some dispute over when Alembic started it but it's agreed that Alembic was the first..
 
John
 
(Message edited by 811952 on February 21, 2013)

Curious....Warwick as a company did not exist before 1982.

They may using Framus as how long they have been in business.  Framus was owned by Mr. Wilfer's father, and then he assumed control of that company, which was a predecessor to Warwick.  Not that I am defending their claim mind you.....

Well Framus is quite a bit older... my first guitar was a Framus and that was purchased new in 1962. They were'nt a new company even then.

My grandfather built a mandolin for my mother, could easily be 75 years ago, and as a skilled carpenter and clarinet player (and a father of five with a small budget) he had to improvise. So instead of a bone nut, it has a little L-shaped metal plate, with slots for the strings, which is suspended by two screws (originally, one is now missing) and is therefore a height-adjustable nut.
 
The mandolin has a nice inlay of a butterfly in a flamed Afrormosia top veneer. (That is an actual wood species, I looked it up as I wrongfully doubted my mom's memory!) The body is plywood. but the back and sides have a beautiful walnut veneer, and the neck looks like it may be solid mahogany. Too bad the top looks so cracked, and the tuners are in bad shape, I don't dare to string it up completely.

The first warwick was made in 1982. I have a Warwick Streamer from 1983/84. It has a brass nut, but it isn't adjustable. I don't know when they introduced the just-a-nut (thats what they call their adjustable brass nut) but that was later, maybe in the late 80's.

I did a little research and found page on talkbass  
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f238/warwick-difference-our-just-nut-iii-adjustable-nut-960151/
where warwick officialy states that they introduced the adjustable nut in 1987

This should make for a lively exchange between Warwick and Alembic.  Warwick seems to copy several manufacturers.

According to that link Warwick invented it in 87?
There seems to be plenty of Alembics prior to 87 with factory installed adjustable brass nuts as original equipment.

I have a Warwick Thumb from 1987 and it already has an adjustable brass nut. But other than the new one every string is running over a screw for moving up or down the string.

It seems to me that if there is a patent on it that there would be a cease and desist order on the horizon aimed at whomever falsley makes the inventor claim ya' think?
 
(Message edited by smokin dave on February 22, 2013)

This whole thread sounds nuts to me. . . .

I just posted a few pics of pre-87 Alembics on the TB forum.  I figured what the heck.    
 
And, by the way, I'm also a French model - bonjour.  (you know - everything on the Internet is true  ;o)
 
Stephen

Bond Electraglide guitars, perhaps the most innovative electric guitar ever produced (approximately 1400 made in Scotland in 1984-85) have adjustable nuts.  That certainly predates Warwick's 1987 claim.
 
Bill, tgo