Orville H. Gibson (born in 1856- 1918, Chateaugay, New York) was a luthier who founded the what was to become the Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1902, makers of guitars and mandolins and other instruments and music gear.
Before making instruments full time Gibson held various day jobs while pursuing his hobby, which was making guitars and mandolins.
In 1896 Orville filed his first and only patent for his innovative mandolin design. His designs were a radical departure from the traditional Italian-style mandolins in both looks and technical features. His mandolins featured a relatively flat carved back, a carved top, and a longer fret board to make room for easier fingering. They were constructed with either a teardrop-shaped or a Florentine style with points and scroll.
He eventually sold the exclusive rights to his patent in 1904 to a group of businessmen. He then continued of on and off as a part-time or full time employee of the Gibson company, earning an average salary and collecting some royalties. It is unclear as to the relationship that he had with the company that bore his name after he sold the patent. There are no know instruments made by him after 1906 that still survive.
Many of the surviving instruments made by him are elaborately ornamented and are now highly valuable.
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