FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

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Question:
I've just looked at an old 1921 or earlier (supposedly) Gibson archtop acoustic but the logo on the headstock is like nothing I've ever seen before. It reads Gibson in block letters ( looks like gold decals or transfers) going down between the pegs from the top to the nut.

Answer:
Gibson logos prior to 1928 read The Gibson. This was phased out over the next several years to just say Gibson. I've never seen a Gibson logo that was not either angled or straight across the peghead. I just skimmed the photos in several reference works and couldn't find any. Labels read Gibson-Mandolin-Guitar Co from ca. 1908 until about 1933, when the Gibson Inc. replaced it. The instrument you are looking at would at least seem to be made no earlier than 1933. Hope this helps a bit.