Who were the builders... the names... who made our beloved old Gibson boxes?

[Hogtown Fatty]

The Fatty strikes again after so Long.

Something I've often wondered...
What were the names of the men and women who so meticulously, superlatively, crafted our beloved Gibson jazz boxes of the golden era... the stuff from the 30's through to the early-60's...
Some of those ultra-deluxe builds, like some custom Super 400's, can easily hang with D'Angelico's, yet we seldom, if ever, see any names attached to these beauties. But even stuff like the old CC ES-150's, the ES-250's, L5's, etc.
Really keen to learn more about the history... who made these incredible things?! And why don't we tout their names?!

[tbeltrans]

There is a signature inside my Gibson Citation, but unfortunately, I can't read the writing. It isn't the famous Jim Hutchins though. I don't know how many people, nor their names, were involved in building these, but maybe if the names were known we could use the process of elimination.

Tony

[jads57]

There were many Dutch heritage wood builders in the 1940’s and ‘50s at the old Kalamazoo Gibson plant. So I’m sure there fingerprints are all over those fine Archtops.
I would also say James Culbertson from the Crimson Era Gibson CS made incredible Archtops as well!

[6v6ster]

There’s at least one Gibson book that goes into all the people, sorry I can’t remember the name right now, brain no works with this flu.

[daverepair]

I have a 1948 National 1135: it's a Gibson-made, 17" acoustic archtop, an L-7 except for the logo and neck inlays(and no truss rod).

There is a National serial number plate, on the back of the headstock. I looked inside, very carefully, with a mirror and light, to see if I could find an Gibson Factory Order Number. Didn't find an FON, but did find the following, penciled in small neat letters, the following, on the treble side by the f-hole:

Gibson, Inc
225 Parsons St
Kalamazoo Mich
'Some Joint'

Hee-hee. The writing is partially covered by the kerfed lining: it was done before the guitar was assembled. Not exactly a signature or name, but a nice touch.

[hotpepper01]

I do not know agood source for that period of time, from the 20s to the 60s. But I have some information about the Norlin Era. My 2002 L5CT shows the signature of James Hutchins. My 1977 L5CES just shows a label and no master signature. Hope this helps a bit

[Hammertone]

Gil Hembree's book, Gibson Guitars - Ted McCarty's Golden Era, has a lot of information about the people at Gibson.

[jads57]

I believe there’s a book by a French author as well

Amazon.com

[6v6ster]

Gil Hembree's book, Gibson Guitars - Ted McCarty's Golden Era, has a lot of information about the people at Gibson.

that’s the book! A ton of employee interviews and info in there.