Everyone A Gibsonite

Promotional photo for 1921 Gibson Mandolin Company "Catalog M". Ivers Mandolin Orchestra/Adams Plectrum Society, Adams, Massechusetts.

Members I can identify: Center Middle Row: Joseph Ivers, Orchestra leader, Gibson Mandolin Company Agent,and my Great Grandfather, Center Left Holding a Gibson F-4 Mary Ivers-Bassette, my Great Grandmother, Back Row from left: Leonore Ivers-Carmel, my Great Aunt, George Ivers, my Grandfather, Sitting in front, white dress, Doris Ivers-Hueston, my Great Aunt.

Page 21 Gibson Mandolin Catalog M: See right side second photo from bottom

Page 21 Gibson Mandolin Catalog M: See right side second photo from bottom
I recently discovered that this photo of my Great grandfather's Mandolin Orchestra appears on page 21 of the Gibson "M" catalog, published in 1921, confirming my theory that he (Joseph L. Ivers) was a Gibson "teacher-agent" or dealer, and that this photo was part of the "Everyone a Gibsonite" marketing campaign. Some of these instruments are still owned and played by Ivers family members. For example, my father Robert Ivers still plays the 1914 F4 in the center played by my Great Grandmother Mary Ivers in this photo. He also owns a 1921 H2 Mandola, no doubt pictured brand spanking new somewhere in this photo. I would love to try to contact other family members to see where some of these other instruments ended up.

Water Color "Grandfather's Mandolin" by Robert Ivers of Gibson F-4 #24532

Water Color "Grandfather's Mandolin" by Robert Ivers of Gibson F-4 #24532
Water Color Of My Great Grand Father's F4 painted by my Father, Robert Ivers. Look !!!!!!! Notice unintended ghost image of my Great Grandfather Joseph Ivers in upper left !

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Adams Plectral Society Concert Announcement Mid 1920's

This ones' a bit hard to read, but references "The Adams Plectral Society"  an orchestra with 43 members...That's a large group, and potentially a lot of Mandolin family instruments, all under the direction of my great grandfather JL Ivers. Also interesting to note that this was a ticketed event. Tickets sold by "members of the Plectral society" and at The Berkshire News company. Not sure of the exact year, of this clip probably mid 1920's.
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Friday, January 2, 2015

Here's another reference to the effort to recruit both new students, and anyone who may have once played "guitar, banjo, mandolin, mandolin-banjo, mandocello, harp, harp guitar, guitar-banjo....knock the dust off them and get busy"!  "Under the direction of J L Ivers." Again, I'm sure the idea here was to recruit students or existing amateur musicians who would become potential buyers of Gibson Mandolin family instruments.
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