That Was The Year... 1930 Airships, Diesels and Pluto

GIBSON GUITARS BUILDS AN ACOUSTIC

for lilian G Marshall, an orchestra leader and Hawaiian guitar teacher. The style and shape follows a regular Gibson l-00 with a 12-fret neck joint but this Marshall special features an X-braced top making it the lightest Gibson flattop ever made. The tropical volcano scene painted on the top gives it an Hawaiian flavour. it remains one of the rarest Gibson models in existence.

ON THE 18TH APRIL A BBC RADIO REPORTER

announces, “There is no news today” for the first and only time in history. The Times publishes its first crossword; Mickey Mouse makes his first appearance as a comic strip; and Birdseye frozen foods go on sale for the first time in the Usa.

THE HOUSING ACT PROVIDES GOVERNMENT

subsidy for slum clearance and construction of new council houses as replacements; there’s an assisted wiring scheme encouraging people to connect their homes to the public electricity supply; and Britain’s unemployment figure tops 18%.

THE REGAL RECORDING KING IS A POPULAR

early example of an electric guitar with the volume and tone controls being an integral part of the pickup. A jack socket is located on the bottom edge even then so although a bit bulky in execution it was still a practical design. sunburst is the most common finish but natural is also available and this electrified model is top of the range.

THE BRITISH AIRSHIP R100 SUCCESSFULLY

completes its 78-hour passage to canada but just over two months later the R101 crashes in France on its maiden voyage, heading to india. clessie cummins of the cummins Motor co, completes the first diesel engine automobile trip, travelling from indianapolis to New York city

MUSICAL NEW-BORNS INCLUDE

JP Richardson (aka The Big Bopper), Ray charles, blues harpist little Walter, country music singer-songwriter liz Anderson, jazz players Ornette coleman, Herbie Mann and guitarist Jim Hall, and composer stephen sondheim. The BBC symphony Orchestra is formed under the directorship of Adrian Boult, and Richard Gurley Drew invents magnetic scotch Tape marketed by the 3M company.

LUTHIER BROTHERS CARL AND AUGUST LARSON

of chicago introduce their top-of-the-line Maurer Model 593 ‘Tree Of life’ guitar. The body size is between a parlour and an orchestra model and features a spruce top with Brazilian rosewood back, sides and headstock. The mahogany neck has an ebony fingerboard decorated with a spectacular tree of life vine in mother-of-pearl and abalone. The ebony bridge features a pair of engraved mother-of-pearl stars and the body top and rosette are bound with

mother-of-pearl and abalone.