Documents - the Jennings Univox, 1955
October 1955.
This page picks up from the page on 1954. In 1955, Jennings scaled back promotion of the Univox, the company's catalogue having expanded considerably in relation to previous years - notably a new and growing range of console organs, and an extended range of "group" and "solo" instruments - guitars, accordions, and so on. At the British Industries Fair in April organs took pride of place. A page on the Fair can be found here.
The key achievement in terms of general publicity will, by a long stretch, have been the use of a Univox on "The Sooty Show" (BBC) - see the advert below, March 1955. To have both sound (even if slightly wobbly) and appearance presented to an audience must have been of huge value. Although only around 350,000 households had televisions at the time, viewing figures are likely to have come close to reader numbers of the "Melody Maker", reasonably close at any rate. For the time being, so much has to be qualified.
In terms of exports, the line was much the same as it had been in 1954: "Univox is exported to over over 25 countries". Presumably the twenty five still included America, though nothing is said explicitly. That substantial orders came from the Commonwealth in 1954 and 1955, in particular New Zealand and Australia, is clear from local newspapers and other sources. Further down this page, a picture of the Univox display in Stanley Eady's shop in Auckland.
As in 1954, dealers and distributors in the United Kingdom continued to advertise the Univox quasi independently, normally using images or artwork that had already appeared in adverts placed by Jennings in the general music and trade press. It is likely that such images were supplied to dealers - perhaps select groups - in the form of photos: promotional packs accompanying manuals, circuit diagrams, and so on. Often in these "dealer" ads there is no mention of Jennings to be seen. To anyone leafing through trade press magazines in late November 1955 with no prior knowledge of the Univox, it might seem as though the instrument were in some way Dallas's initiative rather than Jennings'. See the piece at the foot of this page. The strange world of reselling.
Also to mention that Jennings gave its name as "The Jennings Group of Companies" rather than "The Jennings Organ Company" in an advert put out in June (as it had done also in June 1954). True, Tom owned several different companies in the mid 1950s, but why mention the "Group" only in June? - perhaps something to return to.
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 1955. Further material to be added in due course.
January 1955
March 1955
April 1955
June 1955, "The Jennings Group of Companies", Univoxes and Accordions.
October 1955
November 1955, pricelist with Hire Purchase down payments.
November 1955
November 1955