Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Western?

Here's a bottle that has me puzzled. Anyone have any info you want to share on this.
 


The following ads were provided by Andrew K.
 

1876
 

1878
 

8 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. This is confusing..... Gibb & Co was listed in San Francisco from 1873 to 1876 and in Oakland in 1876. Gibb Gavin J. W. is listed as living in both Oakland and San Francisco in 1876 and 1877. In late 1875 Gibb & Co filed bankruptcy and Gibb appears to become an independent signpainter for 1877 and 1878 in San Francisco, but in Oakland he partners with J.G. Gardiner for 1877. He disappears from Oakland listings after 1877. He partners one last time with William Koch in 1879 in San Francisco, then falls off the radar.

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  3. Ive always believed this was blown in the West and is an ink from Oakland. Hmmm..maybe it was actually paint for school children? Still think it is an ink.

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  4. He definitely fell off the radar for he died in March 1878. I am guessing but I think Gavin Gibb was the originator of this super rare bottle. He probably sold ink or glue in these umbrella ink styled bottles. It is odd that he didn't advertise products that typically are found in them. Whatever the products were, they must have been short lived

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  5. Correction - Gavin Jarden Watson Gibb died in San Francisco on March 22, 1879. I should proof what I am writing. He was born in 1840 to David and Jennette Stewart Gibb in Philadelphia. His father was a painter and had apparently died by 1860. Gavin is not listed with his mother and siblings in the 1860 census either so he must have left home by then.
    He first appears in the 1861 Nevada City Directory as a painter and was in San Francisco by 1863, selling paints and oils, as well as painting houses and signs.

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  6. How rare Eric, less than 10 known ?

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  7. I have never really attempted an inventory but I have not seen as many as ten specimens.

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  8. I would consider the Gibb ink rare, as I have owned 5 and have seen another 4 or 5 at shows. Maybe another 3 or 4 in collections I have seen. I think there are about 25-30 in collections or floating around. Dale

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