That Was The Year ... 1935

Presley, Cremona and Kit Kat

HARMONY’S CREMONA ACOUSTIC RANGE gets a major overhaul with several new models being introduced; from the H1263 Grand Concert version to the top of the range H1307 Cremona VII with its distinctive Wine Red Shaded carved spruce top, herringbone top trim, flamed maple back and sides. The neck has a soft-V profile, pearl inlays and a racing stripe on the fingerboard. During wartime the whole range is modified with the tuners and tailpiece quality downgraded due to metal shortages, but it remains a great series of guitars. IN CELEBRATION OF KING GEORGE v’s Silver Jubilee the London North Eastern Railway introduces the Silver Jubilee streamliner service between Kings Cross and Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, employing Nigel Gresley’s LNER Class A4 steam locomotives. The driving test is made compulsory, populated areas are given a 30 mph speed limit for the first time and ‘cat’s eyes’ are introduced on British roads. THE FIRST DEMONSTRATION OF RADAR takes place in Daventry conducted by Robert Watson-Watt; the new steelworks at Corby begins production; and the Hawker Hurricane fighter performs its maiden flight. Designed in the International style the De La Warr Pavilion opens in Bexhill-On-Sea; Penguin Books publishes paperbacks for the first time; and Rowntree produces its Chocolate Crisp bar soon to be renamed Kit Kat. NEW TADPOLES IN THE POND include Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Alex Harvey, Gene Vincent, Luciano Pavarotti, Barry McGuire, Sonny Bono, Herb Alpert, Dudley Moore, Ronnie Hawkins, Jim Dale, John Phillips (Mamas & The Papas), Johnny Mathis, Julie Andrews, television presenter Simon Dee, Rod Hull (and Emu?) and actors Donald Sutherland, Woody Allen and Doug McClure. Leaving the pond is The Sorcerer’s Apprentice composer Paul Dukas. GIBSON’S ‘NEW MODELS’ BROCHURE reveals the new Super 400 archtop guitar, and in true Gibson fashion it’s named after its sale price of $400. This is a truly staggering price during these times of depression. No flat-tops are included in the brochure but the small L-30 archtop is now presented with a highly striking all-black finish. BRITAIN IS CONCERNED by the German re-armament and the country’s introduction of conscription, so the government responds with plans to increase the size of the Royal Air Force. Somewhat surprisingly, Britain comes to an agreement with Germany that allows it to increase its navy. EPIPHONE INTRODUCES THE MIGHTY EMPEROR acoustic archtop to take on its main rival for jazz guitar supremecy Gibson, over in Kalamazoo. It features a carved spruce top, maple back and sides, carved back and multi-bound body. The maple neck has a 20-fret bound ebony fretboard, split block pearl inlays, a bound headstock with a pearl vine logo inlay and gold tuners. The guitar also has a raised bound tortoiseshell scratchplate, an adjustable ebony bridge and an engraved trapeze tailpiece. The finish is Cremona Brown Sunburst.