As we all know, Gibson maintained nearly no records during its war years. No production numbers. No serial numbers. No construction details. No custom order records. And the FON "system", the Gibson factory order numbers, is particularly beguiling. FONs are often not sequential and Gibson also apparently re-used some of them. Our gain is that this registry enables us all to sort out the Banner era Gibsons. Eventually it will function as a searchable data base of historical and technical information.

If you're willing to help us with this registry project, please email Willi at willi at j-35.com with pics and information about your banner Gibson. In addition we'd like to post full front and back pics and also pics showing the tuners, the neck block and unique features if possible.

• Tops:
  • 2p A / 4p A: 2 piece/4 piece Adirondack  
  • 2p S: Sitka
  • 2p M / mhg: mahogany
• Neck blocks:
  • m/bev: mahogany bevelled
  • m/sq: mahogany square
  • p/sq: poplar square
• No FON
• Tuners:
  • 3 pl *1: Klusons 3-on-a-plate screwed cog wheels, string posts 7/32"
  • 3 pl *2: Klusons 3-on-a-plate riveted and thin cog wheels 1/4"
  • sgl *2: Klusons single units riveted and thin cog wheels 1/4"
  • 3 pl *3: Klusons 3-on-a-plate riveted and medium thick cog wheels 1/4"
  • sgl *3: Klusons single units riveted and medium thick cog wheels 1/4 "
• Necks:
  • mhg: mahogany
  • mpl: maple 3 ply/5 ply
• tr: adjustable truss rod
• V: maple V-bar
• Pick guards:
  • striped celluloid
  • mocking type tortoise celluloid
• Bridges:
  • n/angled: narrow type with angled edges to the wings
  • n/straight: narrow type with straight edges to the wings
  • n/round: narrow type with rounded edges to the wings
  • belly: lower belly type
  • belly: late banner lower belly type with flat surface and thick wings

• What means date of manufacture? This is referring to the time point when the FON stamp we are referring to was stamped on. This happened quite early during the production process. This date does not reflect the time frame of the guitar's manufacturing process or the time point when the guitar was completed or shipped. The date of stamp/date of manufacture very often differs to the considered or expected date of completion for several reseaons.
• Many stamps are faded or are hardly readable and in some cases even show errors by Gibson itself
• The transition numbers of 1943 to 1944 and 1944 to 1945 are estimations and tentative since they can't be narrowed down exactly until this research is not completed and finished.