Documents - the Jennings Univox, 1954
The Jennings stand at the "British Industries Fair", 1954. Picture published in the trade press in April '54.
This page picks up from the page on 1953. The principal development in 1953: the introduction of the J10 "Concert Grand", shown in public for the first time at the London section of the British Industries Fair. A page on the Fair can be found here.
April 1954, the new Univox J10 in the centre.
Detail from an advert of July 1954, the principal characteristics of the Univox J10 Conert Grand.
Quite when development of the new model began is unrecorded - presumably late 1953 though, led by Derek Underdown and Les Hills. No special patent survives (if any were actually applied for) for the J10. The only circuit diagram known at present is J10/-E/2, a wiring schema drawn out in November 1954 well after production was underway.
As for promotions, the pace set in train by Tom in late 1953 continued for the most part throughout 1954. For the general public the ads that perhaps gave the most useful information were the ones placed in "Melody Maker" magazine in January and November. Not only were the Hire Purchase terms set out in full, but a current list of recordings was provided. Whether anyone could really pick out the Univox in the BBC series "Journey into Space" (referenced in January) is difficult to say - the sound effects (pre-Radiophonic Workshop) are fairly heavily layered. Fun trying at any rate. The series as a whole is available today on Youtube.
"Exported to 25 different countries", at the foot of the January piece, is certainly striking, even if "different" seems slightly superfluous. In an ad placed in the music trade press in March 1954, sixteen of these countries were represented, a dollar symbol - tellingly? - standing for the USA.
For trade shows and public events, Tom's main demonstrator in 1954 and 1955 was Eric Easton, a skilled organist who is perhaps best known however as manager of the Rolling Stones (for a time). Following the conclusion - in 1969 - of a long-running legal case against Andrew Oldham, Easton moved to Florida to set up in business as an organ dealer, returning in a way to roots.
In addition to the commissioning of standees and other promotional materials for shows, Jennings naturally also kept its technical drawings and manuals up to date - service sheets and circuit diagrams for the Service Agents; leaflets and manuals for the Univox user. Below, the front cover of an owners' manual for the J10.
The front cover of a J10 users' manual from the later 1950s. Thanks to Martin for the picture.
General chronological overview
In progress, September 2024.
Below, for the time being, a small selection from a substantial number of ads placed by Jennings in various journals, magazines, and newspapers during 1954 - striking and sometimes slightly surreal pieces of design and artwork. Further material to be added in due course.
January 1954. An advert aimed at dealers placed in the trade press.
January 1954.
February 1954.
February 1954. An advert placed in the "highbrow" music press, perhaps the earliest instance of the new cursive "UNIVOX" logo and "surround". This type of logo was used on early cases (mostly those covered in tweed, geometric basketweave, or coloured vinyl).
A bulb illuminated the logo when the Univox was in use.
Detail from an ad placed in the trade press in March 1954 - interesting to see the USA represented by a dollar symbol. Why not the Empire State building or a bald eagle?
1st May 1954, popular music press, detail of a full page advert for the BFI show.
May 1954, the first advert for the new J10 in the popular music press - with a clear statement (rebuttal) that the Univox had NOT been copied from foreign patents (i.e. the Clavioline).
November 1954, music trade press.
November 1954, an idealised view of 115 Dartford Road - "J.O.C." is the "Jennings Organ Company".
Detail of the above. Somewhere in the BBC archive there must be a clip of Sooty playing the Univox.