A1 Mandolin signed by Willie Denney

[kate]

Have an old A1 Mandolin and painted on the pick guard are the words-Bill Hanks by Willie Denney, Oct. 19, 1938.

Was told that Denney could have been a fiddle maker for Gibson. Does anyone recognize these names?

Gibson replied that they have no information on these names. Hope someone can help me.

[Wally]

Hello, Kate, and Welcome!
I have no info on either of those names. Google didn't quickly reveal any musician/luthiers with those names. IT would seem odd for a Gibson luthier to paint some names on a Gibson Mandolin.
I find no mention of Gibson building violins in 'Gibson Guitars...100 years...". That doesn't mean a luthier who built violins did not work for Gibson building stringed instruments.
Orville Gibson's first designs were drawn from the viol family regarding arched tops and backs among other points, but I don't think he built violins with the Gibson name. Gibson's inspiration of relating guitar and mandolin construction to the violin construction led to the F series of mandolins and the arch-top guitars. The Loyd Loar F-5 mandolin and the L-5 guitar were standards of their time and still stand as examples for those types of instruments.
Sorry I can't help much. Is the paint firmly etched in to the pickguard or could it be removed? IF it would come off without leaving marks, I would remove it. You have no family affiliation, the names distract from the instrument, the value is compromised and the ease of sale is complicated unless some rare person likes those type of touches,.....I don't. Now, if you find out to whom these names belong and there is some connection to someone/something that sparks interest, that is another matter.

[kate]

Thanks for responding. The paint can be removed but I will give it time to see if anyone knows the names.

Thanks again,