Interview with Dave Branch

Interviewee

Dave Branch

Files

Interviewers

Jay Gavan

Description

Interview with Dave Branch recorded on November 15, 2012 at Delton District Library, Delton, Michigan. Recorded by interviewer James 'Jay' Gaven for a Kalamazoo Valley Museum exhibit on Gibson Guitars. Dave worked at the Gibson Guitar factory from 1963 to 1982/83. He was one of the last employees before the factory closed. He recounts his memories at the factory, including:

• starting at Gibsons as a janitor at the age of 22, fresh from the military
• working in the Woodshop, then finishing, with 16 years in buffing
• physical demands of working in buffing
• talks about various foremen, inspectors
• meeting Little River Band, and Charlie Daniels
• shows and talks about various memorabilia, including the Gibson manual
• sourcing wood from a raised submerged ship
• the height of Gibson Guitars, running three factories, three shifts
• apprentice program for craftsmen

Date of Interview

11-15-2012

Location of Interview

Delton (Mich.)

Series

Gibson Guitar Factory Oral Histories

Keywords

Gibson Inc., Gibson guitar, Guitar makers, Guitar history, Factories, Personal narratives

Disciplines

Oral History | Other Music | Public History

Language

ENG

Document Type

Book

Recommended Citation

Branch, Dave, "Interview with Dave Branch" (2012). Kalamazoo Valley Museum - Gibson Guitar Factory Oral Histories. 4.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/gibson-guitar-oral-histories/4

Length of video

00:53:10

Length of video log

15 pages