Accordions sold by the Jennings shop in the 1950s
100 Charing Cross Road
In progress, February 2026
Summer 1948, currently the earliest known full-page advert placed by Tom in the mainstream music press.
For the time being, simply an overview of the examples that have come to light to date with Jennings labels. In due course, a representative selection of the (many) listings placed in the music trade press in the 1950s, some encompassing dozens of accordions, will be incorporated.
Business at "The Accordion Centre" in the basement of 100 Charing Cross Road was good through to 1960. Sales thereafter were almost completely eclipsed by amplifiers. In December 1960, "Musicland", the Jennings shop in Bexleyheath, held a massive clearance sale of unsold accordions. More on Musicland can be found on this page.
A detail from a full page advert (listing) placed in the popular music press in December 1960.
Whether all the accordions passed through 100 Charing Cross Road, or indeed Musicland, were given labels is not known at present.
Some surviving examples
An Excelsior "OO", sold by Tom in April 1950, at the other end of the spectrum from the Boselli pictured below in terms of quality and price. Excelsiors command huge sums today.
The sales receipt for the accordion pictured above, which appears not to have had a Jennings badge (or at least no longer has one). "Manufacturers" covered a range of things specially made or "re-branded" for Jennings. A few were indeed produced in the shed behind number 119 however.
March 1950, Tom's magazine. Tom held the trademark for Ranco in the UK (granted in August 1951).
Earlier style of shop label
A Boselli "Maestro" accordion in blue pearl finish with a Jennings badge on its rear panel, possibly listed in an advert placed in the music press in October 1956. Bosellis seem to have been stocked by Jennings only occasionally.
Blue pearl finish, gold glitter trimmings.
October 1956. Larry Macari was overseer-in-chief at the Centre (in the shop basement). It is to be hoped that an example of the "FREE complete lists" mentioned will eventually surface.
A splendid Continental piano bass still with its original case.
A Soprani Settimio Ravenna with a fine inlaid fascia. The original case, if present, was not pictured.
Later style of shop label
A later Jennings badge (later 1950s) on a German-made Electra Accordion, a make that Tom does not appear to have advertised widely.
Below, a striking Hohner "Double Ray", not identifiable (so far at any rate) in the known Jennings adverts and listings:
