European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 8, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse A Tuci o v or h e r Roger Field searches for a better Way by Ron Jensen Niernberg Bureau r oger Field looks at a detail in life and ask How can it be better. As a designer and inventor his role is to alter the world perhaps subtly perhaps in a grand Way. Quot i am never satisfied with things the Way they Are Quot said the English born California educated Field whose wife Dolores has worked for 20 years at the Headquarters of the army air Force Exchange service now in Birndorf Germany. Field has acquired or has pending More than 30 patents on everything. From camera equipment to a machine gun that fires Case less ammunition. He has designed computer keyboards arid the seats for the Airbus air plane a project that kept him employed for three years. But his biggest splash May come with his fold axe his name for the folding guitar he invented in his shop in Munich. The fold axe a the name incorporates a Slang name for the guitar with its unique adaptability a can be folded in half to fit beneath an airline seat or in a suitcase. But the key is the strings Are not stretched or pulled out of tune with each folding. A guitarist need Only unfold it and Strum. Quot i m a passionate guitar player Quot said Field 47. When working for Airbus he was frequently flying on business and he always took his guitar which had to be checked through by the airline. Quot there was always a Chance of the guitar getting broken Quot he said. In 1975, he was discussing this problem with Chet Atkins a guitarist of world renown whom Field has known since 1967, and promised that he would solve the problem. One year later he showed Atkins a prototype. Since then Field has shown the guitar which has gone through several adaptions to Eric Clapton members of the rolling stones Albert Lee and others photographing each meeting. The guitar has gained some attention particularly in Europe. Field has a notebook of dozens of articles from european newspapers written about the fold axe. Atkins has demonstrated the invention on entertainment this week and the today show. Quot it was horribly difficult to do Quot Field said. Quot i tried various mechanical solutions. I tried Springs and that did t the solution came when Field studied a picture of a steam engine and noted the Rod that connects the wheels. Adapting this Type of device he connected two identical Drums one at the base of the guitar neck and one on the guitar face with the strings connected. When the guitar is folded the Drums rotate together pulling the strings but maintaining the tension. When unfolded the drum on the face rotates into the guitar body again pulling the strings. Guitar player Magazine called the concept Industrial design Magazine gave it the designer s Choice award. The guitar though is expensive and Field has made Only 10, although his Hope is to manufacture them on a Large scale. Atkins has one. So does Lee and James Burton famous As Elvis Presley s guitar player. Field said his interest in design and invention began As a Young boy in England. His father who travelled frequently often brought his son a toy from one of his trips. Quot i would take these toys apart Quot he said. Quot i was curious. I had to see How it worked. I often could t get it Back together Field is a designer and an inventor and agrees that the two careers Are at least cousins. Quot i want to be known As an innovator Quot he said. Quot i want to be known for things that have not been done a amps Ron Jensen Roger Field has made 10 of his fold axes so far but dreams of mass producing them. Above he sits with Rocker Eric Clapton who holds one of the folding guitars. Monday february 8,1993 the stars and stripes Short subject Jurgen Holtz plays the bigoted Archie Bunker creates a National juror by the associated press what s German fat foul mouthed and As bigoted As Archie Bunker Motzki that s who the main character in a new German television sitcom whose portrayal of the ugly German has politicians hopping mad and viewers shifting in their seats a or laughing hysterically. Motzki is a retired West Berlin driving instructor who blurts out bile about those Lazy whiny backward cast germans. These prejudices Are shared by Many Western germans. Motzki s also a bit of a racist. When the first instalment of Motzki ran tuesday night on Ard television it created an uproar. Critics called the show divisive and 60 angry people phoned in to complain. Quot i m against All censorship. But my advice to the television Powers is Stop Motzki immediately Quot said Klaus Rose a conservative member of Motzki has hit a nerve in Germany where television usually avoids the self mockery that is the daily fare of to in Britain and to a lesser extent France. Jurgen Holtz who plays the German bigot thinks his countrymen Are afraid of their reflection in the Mirror. Quot i swear to you that i have heard every one of these statements in one form or another. We did t make them up Quot Holtz said. Creator Wolfgang Menge said outrage is what he intended. Quot the most important thing is expressing All of the problems and prejudices As with any therapy Quot he said. The comedy of Motzki is ultimately Grin. But his statements Are so outrageous that it s virtually impossible to keep a straight face. In one scene Motzki s sister in Law born in the Eastern state of Saxony tells Motzki Quot the saxons Are probably the most German of All Quot if that were True i would have emigrated Quot he fires Back. Of the Day the Berlin Wall fell Quot that was a Black Day in our he also hates foreigners though about tire Only Friend he has is a Turk named Gulusan. In the first episode Gulusan gets a condescending tour of Motzki s apartment Quot now you can see How a German apartment looks from the inside Quot Motzki says. Quot we hang our Coats on these Hooks. Everything in order. Coats and jackets with their buttons facing to the . 17
