In late 1956 and throughout 1957, the "Jennings Organ Company" set in motion an extensive marketing campaign for its Church Organs led by Leslie Morley, the company's Sales Manager. Attention turned from the popular music press ("Melody Maker" magazine, and so on) to two specialist "highbrow" publications: "Musical Opinion" magazine, a monthly with regular features in its section "Organ World", and its sister publication, "The Organ. A Quarterly Review".

Two models were promoted initially - the "Model A" and "Model C", both two-manual console organs, and both descendants of the original J52 "Church Organ". The first series of ads regularly had endorsements from satisfied users, including one from Cyril Windiate (sometimes given as Windiatt), organist and choirmaster of St Aidan's, Gravesend, and later Tom Jennings's assistant.

"Musical Opinion" magazine, February 1957.

For most of the first part of the year the line was that various models were available from 525 guineas (the "Model C") to 1500 guineas, depending on specification, though it is never explicitly stated what or which models these were, apart of course from the "Model A".

By April 1957, mention began to be made however of "1, 2, and 3 manual" organs, the three-manual probably being at this point either a first version of the "Model G" or a custom build. It was not until early 1958 that the three-manual "G" was widely advertised - probably then in a revised form. More on the "G" later. The company naturally kept its eye on the competition though. In the mid to late 1950s, Derek Underdown acquired a photo of the John Compton Organ workshop taken around 1952, three-manuals aplenty in view.

The John Compton Organ workshop in North London around 1952. See this page, towards the end. Photo acquired by Derek Underdown.

But there were niggles. Doubts had been expressed in an article in "The Organ" about the wisdom of electronic organ installations in churches. Leslie Morley of Jennings rose to the challenge in October:

"The Organ", October 1957.

A small run of ads entitled "Fact or Fiction" and "Pride and Prejudice" preceded his letter, as if to prepare the ground.

These questions aside, Jennings's commissions increased in number against stiff competition in the shape of Compton, which had effectively pioneered electronic church organs in the early 1950s, and Selmer, which had begun its own advertising campaigns in "Musical Opinion" and "The Organ", putting considerable effort behind its promotion of "The Minster" organ. Towards the end of the year, and doubtless in response to a changing sales environment, Jennings revised its prices - the range now pitched at between 375 and 1700 guineas. The 375 guinea unit will have been the "Model DS", a single manual pictured at that price in later brochures and advertisements.

It may be that the change in prices coincided with the appointment of a new Sales Manager. Leslie Morley disappears from the picture to be replaced by L.K. Mackay.

Explicit notices of installations are relatively sparse in 1957, the only major one being (in report at least) of the church of St Barnabas, Bethnal Green, pictured in the August issue of "Musical Opinion", below. Jennings distributors certainly did some - see the note in the "Reading Standard" in August '57. There is also an intriguing note in "Musical Opinion" in December: "Remember, Jennings organs are shipped to many foreign countries including Italy, Belgium, Canada, America, Finland, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand", but otherwise little else.

In 1958 this changed, and fairly extensive sets of details are found, not only of commissions in the British Isles, but overseas too - individual churches and the commissioning communities named.

The adverts below are simply a representative selection from month to month and quarter to quarter. The three published in "The Organ" are largely duplicated in "Musical Opinion", though layout and precise form of words are often different.

Three new distributors are recorded in January '57:

BARNSTAPLE - Nicklin and Sons Ltd.

READING - Herbert and Lascelles Ltd. (see also the "Reading Standard", Aug. '57, below).

SHEFFIELD - Wilson Peck Ltd.

Pages on 1954-1956 and 1958 can be found here. Other years will follow soon. A sequence of pages on guitar amplifiers, beginning with 1957, starts here.

If anyone needs an unmarked images, do let me know.

1957

Wiggs advert in the music trade press, January 1957.

"The Organ", January, 1957: "Cathedral-like tonal character". The building pictured could either be Ripon or Southwark Cathedral.

"The Stage", 7th February, 1957. The "Model B".

"The Organ", April, 1957: "Pride and Prejudice".

"Western Mail Modern Home and Garden Supplement", 14th May, 1957. Snell's of Llanelly with Jennings and Selmer organs.

Music trade journal, July 1957. A great pic of a Jennings "Model A" organ being air-freighted un-boxed to the Channel Islands in June 1957.

"The Organ", July, 1957: "Fact or Fiction?".

"Melody Maker" magazine, 27th July, 1957, the new "Model D". This is probably the budget version of the "Model B" signalled in 1956. The "Model D" does not seem to have lasted long in the Jennings catalogue.

"Musical Opinion" magazine, August, 1957: installation at St Barnabas, Bethnal Green.

The "Reading Standard", 9th August, 1957. Jennings Organs on show, "such as have been installed in various local churches by Herbert and Lascelles Ltd. The company was a designated Jennings distributor.

"Musical Opinion" magazine, November, 1957.

"Melody Maker" magazine, 16th November. The advent of the AC2/30 - see this page. The organ pictured is the "Model B". The model at 375 guineas is probably the "Model D-350".

"Musical Opinion" magazine, December, 1957. A list of successful exports, and the first mention of Mr Mackay, the new Sales Manager.

On to Jennings Organs, 1958.

Documents relating to Jennings (Vox) guitar amplifiers, 1957.