Early Jennings Amplifiers

1952-1957

Up to 1952 Jennings recommended and sold amplifiers made by "Westbourne Sound Equipment" (WSE), which was based in Westbourne Grove, London. A number of the company's models were kept in stock in the Jennings shop on Charing Cross Road. Anything but Selmer.

"The Accordionist and Harmonica Player", the Jennings house magazine, published from Dartford Road, issue for July 1950.

Detail from the page above: "Distributed by Jennings of Dartford".

Below, "Melody Maker" magazine, 20th December, 1952. A fantastic design from "WSE".

"Melody Maker", 20th December, 1952.

In late 1951, Jennings began developing its own amplifiers. Prior to the AC2/30 of 1957 there were at least five, illustrated and described in synopsis below. All except (1) are likely to have been guided into production by Derek Underdown. For the AC2/30 of 1957-1958, .

1951

Early days - two of Tom's successful Trade Mark applications from 1951. "Electric sound amplifiers" could mean a number of things. The Univox, for instance, was similarly classed. But it is possible that these were actually amplifiers properly speaking.

"Products" in the case of "Unitone" suggests that Tom had a range of equipment in mind. Whether any reached production is unknown.

The process of trade-marking an item was a three-fold one: (1) application (noted as being 2nd August, 1951); (2) publication; and (3) final registration - formal legal approval of the name.

"Trade Marks" solely concern the name. "Registered Design" covered outward appearance; "Patents" covered physical/electro-mechanical features.

24th October, 1951. Trade Mark registered (formally approved) on 6th January, 1952.

5th December, 1951. Trade Mark registered on 13th February, 1952.

1951-1957

1. 15 watts, 16" x 11" x 12.5", single speaker, illustrated in the music trade press in December 1951 and "Melody Maker" magazine, 26th January, 1952. Price: 29 guineas and 15 shillings. The name "Univox" was also used in March 1952 for the new portable electronic organ, which remained in production until 1966.

The covering was imitation lizard skin (used for early portable organs and later the G1/10 amplifier). Output was 15 watts, pretty much the limit of a single speaker at the time. Probably designed by Alan Wootton, who went on to develop the Supersound range of guitars and amplifiers - see Mary Wootton's recollections below - from .

December 1951. "It is ideal for accordion, guitar or string bass amplification..."

"Melody Maker" magazine, 26th January, 1952. If an earlier dateable advert materialises it will be posted here.

These amps were still being represented, albeit in silhouette, as late as December 1956. Reasonable numbers were clearly produced and sold.

Detail from a Jennings Organ Company" advert, placed in the music trade press, December 1956.

2. - 1954, single speaker, bow front, rectangular speaker opening, 5 inputs, 15-25 watts. Probably also designed by Alan Wootton.

"Melody Maker" magazine, 1st May, 1954. Note also the "Rotary Foot Swell Ccntrol" (first advertised by Jennings some months earlier). Rotary foot pedals were further developed by Tom Jennings's post-JMI company - "Jennings Electronic Industries" (late 1968 to 1975). But in the 1950s Jennings as ever, was not without competition - Selmer had its own rotary foot pedal. Selmer and Jennings played leap-frog with other things too.

3. - 1955, single speaker, initially released to accompany the J48 organ.

Accordion Times magazine, April 1955.  The Jennings Organ Company at the British Industries Fair

"Accordion Times", April 1955, detail of the portable J48 organ and speaker unit, similar to a G1/10.

4. - 1956-1957, single speaker G1/10, 10 watts, one and two input versions, probably developed from the J48 organ amp. From late 1957, a version with Dick Denney's new vibrato was offered. The G1/10 was still being advertised by Jennings in April 1959 in accordionist circles (accordionists being by and large fairly conservative). A G1/10 survives in the UK.

The G1/10 pictured in "Accordion Times", December, 1957.

5. - 1956, the E.B.1, single speaker, 12 watts, 3 inputs, 24" x 20" x 11", designed to accompany the Electro-Bass - E.B. To date only a single advert, placed in two music magazines, has come to light for this amp.

"Musical Opinion" magazine, November 1956 - the Electro-Bass and a hitherto unknown amplifier: the Jennings E.B.1.

Music trade magazine, November 1956.

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