.

Orville H. Gibson:

A Biography

by
Joyce Brumbaugh

.

.

.Orville H. Gibson was a successful luthier in Kalamazoo, Michigan years before the Gibson Guitar Company was founded in 1902. Read about his life and times and his journey to becoming the in-house luthier for a company with his name on it.

Orville H. Gibson: A Biography is made up of 8 chapters, 4 appendices, over 100 photographs and pieces of ephemera.

OHG, the book, is in the process of being professionally edited. How long that will take depends on the schedule of the editor and my ability to process the changes.

I’m being told that it’s OK to draw a line on the contents. It’s difficult when I keep finding new information. I guess that simply means a second edition.

.

.

A sample of Joyce’s Blog…
Only Orville’s in the Building

.

.

.I’m Looking for a specific Guitar

I have a strange request friends, so bear with me. Someone out there has an unfinished guitar that they are not quite sure if it’s an Orville or not. This is a turn of the 20th century guitar that was never completed. If you know the owner, could you put me in touch with them? This is for documentation purposes only. I would like to photograph it and take measurements. Thank you to everyone for your help. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Contact

.

Ad Vanderveen and his Gibson Guitars
March 19, 2024
Ad is an exceptional guitar player. He’s no slouch on the piano, either. The thing that stands out to me, is that there is as much to listen to in his playing as there is in his lyrics. His voice, his instrumentation and his songwriting are a nicely balanced package. He also knows how to make good use of distortion. I never tire of it. I’m guessing it’s the unapologetic reverberation that those hollow bodies deliver. Read more

.

Rumors…
January 16, 2024
It’s been rumored that Orville could speak German. This is entirely possible due to his friendship with Daniel M. Cohn, a fellow stage brother. Morris and Rika Cohn, Dan’s parents, were both born in Germany. They all belonged to several of the German social clubs, so they obviously held on to their roots, There was no shortage of German Societies and Clubs in Kalamazoo. Dan was a member of the German Song Club and the German Dramatic Club. Morris and Rika were members of the Alemania Society. A number of church services and wedding ceremonies were conducted in German. Read more

.

The Water’s Edge
January 30, 2024
I’ve often said that if background checks were truly accurate, mine would say “smart ass.” I get my sense of humor from my dad, but my smart ass-ery comes directly from my mother. Although you wouldn’t know it by looking at her. So, what has this got to do with anything? Read more


.

Bolivar, the Elephant
November 7, 2023
Just as people were coming out of church and down Main Street, an elephant was let loose and came across the street by Wm. B. Clark & Son’s store, accompanied by its driver… This elephant was as wild as if just caught, and struck out in all directions, greatly endangering the crowd that followed. This must have been from his taking too much spirito vino at the Burdick House lunch… Terror drove our reporter from the scene, and what became of that animal and the people we don’t know, but think he was finally entertained at the club room of the Hungry Ten,” Read more