Loar era Gibson Workers

Courtesy Tony Williamson Breaking News 1922

 Adrian Glerum 23, woodworker. Born 1889 in Holland (Netherlands), arrived in US March 1911. Speaks, reads & writes English. Left Gibson in 1925, but was rehired in 1930s. In a later photo, he is shown tap-tuning a violin prompting some scholars to conclude that his role on the F-5 was to tap-tune tops.

John S Paterson, 56 , wood carver. Worked at Gibson since 1911; his parents were immigrants from Switzerland; speaks English. Left Gibson in 1925.

John J Voisine, 50, “wood worker.” Born in Canada; speaks French, but not English. Left Gibson in 1925.

Clyde E Seward,  23, born 1899 Cumberland, Wisconsin; woodworker, left Gibson in 1925; in 1926, took a job as a driver for Taylor Produce.

Francis Harrison Havens, 28, draftsman at Kalamazoo Railway Co, born in Three Rivers, Michigan; second mandolinist of the Gibsonians in 1921 and 1922 and may have worked as draftsman for Gibson in 1922. Was back at Kalamazoo Railway by 1924.

Henry T Reeves, 46, draftsman, born in Indiana. Left Gibson in 1925.

Hans Dorthaus Larsen, 63, cabinet maker, speaks, reads and writes English. Born Gronberg, Vejle, Denmark, immigration 1882.  Left Gibson by 1926, died of pneumonia, 1927.

Leroy Clement “Curly” Bramble, 32, assistant foreman, born 1890, Franklin, Michigan.  Continued at Gibson in various roles through the 1930s.

Roy McKinley Wiberg, 25, woodworker, born in Michigan.  Worked at Gibson 1922-1958. 

Charles Wallace Best, 62, Woodworker.  Born New York 1860. Woodworker at Gibson at least by 1907, foreman in 1926-1927.  Continued as woodworker at Gibson almost until his death in 1937.

William H Soule, 61, woodworker, born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Worked as woodworker for Ford Manufacturing Company, Kalamazoo, 1902; uncertain when he arrived or left Gibson. 

George Altermatt, 49, woodworker. Born 1873 in Illinois, son of Swiss immigrants, speaks English. Later became factory superintendent, retired in 1948.

Bertie W Stratton,  42, woodworker, born 1880 in Michigan, his mother was a French immigrant. Speaks, reads and writes English. Worked at Gibson until 1939.

Hurl George “Rusty” Adams, 32, benchworker, born St. Joseph MI 1890, worked at Gibson at least until through 1957.  died 1961.

John Adams, 48, bench worker, born in Michigan, wife Carrie M.  Working in finishing in 1920, moved downstairs in 1922; continued as woodworker through the 1930s.

David Wills Landes 59, woodworker, born 1863 Ohio.

Garrett Bos  32, wood turner, born 1890 in Michigan, son of Dutch immigrants, speaks English. Retired from Gibson in the 1960s.

John Kraft, 34, bench worker born Germany 1878, immigration 1883, speaks, reads and writes English. continued at Gibson as woodworker through the 1930s.

Orvil Cyril Kuney, 19, woodworker, born in MI, worked for Gibson through the 1930s.

James Weaver  37, woodworker, born 1885 Indiana.

Glen Owen Cook 34, bench mechanic. Born in 1888 Michigan. Worked at Gibson until the 1950s.

Joseph P Curtis 26, machine operator, born in Canada, speaks French, not English. Worked at Gibson until 1960 in various capacities, ending his career as night watchman.

Thaddeus J. McHugh, 62, was born in Michigan around 1860, son of an Irish immigrant. McHugh is listed as a woodworker for Gibson as early as 1907, and by 1911 was promoted to foreman. He performed many different roles at the Gibson factory during his long tenure there. In 1919 he was a machinist; in 1920 and 1921 he became factory superintendent. In 1922 and 1923, he was construction engineer, and in 1924, machinist. He is known famously as inventor or co-inventor on the patent applications that were filed during his time as superintendent. The bridge and truss rod innovations became industry standards.