A detail from the JMI catalogue of early 1964, the AC15 still in two versions: single speaker and twin.

This page picks up from the page on AC15s in 1962 and 1963. It is perhaps worth saying from the outset that 1964 was really the last year of intensive production. As time went on sales evidently fell off considerably. Comparatively few amps were produced from 1965, and perhaps none or at least vanishingly small numbers in 1966. The scope of this page has been kept broad though to accommodate material relating to sales and advertising [to be incorporated shortly].

Below, the JMI pricelist of February 1964 - the AC15 Twin available in two voicings (Normal and Bass), and the single speaker amplifier apparently only Normal. However, the catalogue of the same date indicates that the Bass model was still available (5 guineas extra). Surviving amplifiers show - see some of those illustrated below - that JMI did indeed continue to produce the single speaker Bass AC15 in 1964.

February 1964.

February 1964.

By late 1964 the single speaker AC15 had gone, however. The Twins continued for a year or so more, then they too came to an end, coinciding more or less with the end of demand from America Below, a detail from the JMI pricelist of November 1965:

November 1965.

NOTES

Chassis were assembled by Westrex (in Willesden, North London) through to the end of 1964. When the contract with Westrex came to end, JMI evidently placed production in part or in whole in the hands of Triumph Electronics in Purley.

Speakers for AC15 Twins were generally Fane 122/10s - ceramic magnet, 20 watts apiece, 15 ohms, finished in mid grey hammerite. Occasionally the Fane labels were left on (ie. not replaced with VOX labels). Now and again, however, as in the case of serial number 5395 below, the Fanes were sprayed Jennings and blue and Vox "Heavy Duty" labels provided.

For single speaker AC15s, Celestion blues, then towards the end of the run (after April 1964), Celestion silvers. Silvers generally accompany cabinets with thick edges.

All cabinets for AC15 Twins on this page are of the "thick-edged" variety. Most single speaker AC15s - except for a few late ones - have "thin-edged" cabs.

Some details relating to the AC15 in the USA (as distributed by the Thomas Organ Company) can be found on this page. Just to note in overview, that the AC15 was marketed initially as the "AC15", then (by Spring 1965) as the "York" (V1-1-5), and in the autumn as the "Kent", before disappearing from the Thomas Organ line-up completely.

Copper panel Singles and Twins, 1964

Serial number 5302 N

AC15 Twin, copper panel, chassis assembled by Westrex. Red-print WIMA caps in the preamp. No component date codes visible/known at present. Cabinet - black basketweave vinyl, brass vents. The original Fane 122/10 speakers in Jennings blue are present.

Serial number 5319 N

AC15 Twin, copper panel, chassis assembled by Westrex. he cabinet has black basketweave vinyl and brass vents. Red-print WIMA caps in the preamp. One of the pots appears to have the date code "KK" = November 1963 for its manufacture. The original Fane 122/10 speakers in Jennings blue are present. The yellow-print Mullard valves have May and June 1963 paint codes.

Serial number 5369 N

Single speaker AC15, brown grille cloth, copper panel. Thick-edged cabinet covered in black basketweave vinyl; black vents. The original speaker has been replaced by a Goodmans Power Range ceramic 12 with red label (these can be 8 ohms or 15 ohms). Thanks to Paul for the info.

Serial number 5390

Single speaker AC15. Thin-edged cabinet covered in black basketweave vinyl. Picture from Jim Elyea's "Vox Amplifiers", p. 356.

Serial number 5395

An AC15 Twin, thick-edged cabinet. Chassis assembled by Westrex. In the preamp, WIMA red print caps. The speakers are Fanes, sprayed Jennings blue, with Vox "Heavy Duty" labels.

Serial number 5398 B

AC15 Twin, black basketweave vinyl. Copper panel. Grille cloth has been replaced as have the original speakers (now Rola Celestion "creambacks" - superb drivers).

Serial number 5424 B

Single speaker AC15. Thin-edged cabinet; black basketweave vinyl. The original speaker has been replaced by a 1970s Goodmans Power Range red label (8 ohms). For some reason Goodmans Power Range speakers seem to have been popular as replacements in AC15s - see serial number 5369 above.

Serial number 5498 B

Single speaker AC15. Thin-edged cabinet; black basketweave vinyl. Chassis assembled by Westrex; mains transformer has been replaced. One of the TCC capacitors in the preamp has the date code "UC" = March 1963 for its manufacture. The speaker is now a new production Celestion blue.

Serial number 5522 N

Single speaker AC15. Thin-edged cabinet covered in black basketweave vinyl. Chassis assembled by Westrex. The main preamp filter capacitor (made by TCC) has the date code "UG" = July 1963 (as serial number 5537 below). The speaker is a Celestion blue (T530).

Silver Celestion T1088s normal from this point

Also now thick-edged cabinets for the single-speaker AC15s

Serial number 5523 N

Single speaker AC15. Thick-edged cabinet covered in black basketweave vinyl; black vents. Handle replaced. The speaker is a Celestion silver (T1088).

Serial number 5537 N

Twin, the cabinet cut down to form a case for the amplifier section only. Heavy dark grey speckled vinyl; black vents. Copper control panel; chassis assembled by Westrex; Albion transformers. In the preamp, WIMA red print capacitors. The main preamp filter capacitor has the date code "UG" = July 1963.

Serial number 5578 N (corrected)

Single speaker AC15. Thin-edged cabinet; black basketweave vinyl; brass vents. Chassis assembled by Westrex. The original Celestion blue is still in place, and the egg-shaped footswitch present and correct. Thanks to Don for the pictures.

Serial number 5587 N

NEW

Serial number 5594 MC

A 15 watt Metal-Clad (MC) public address amplifier. The power section is identical to that of the AC15 guitar amps, the front end naturally quite different. Serial numbers were assigned from the outset in the main AC15 range. For more on the Vox public address range, see these pages on the Vox AC100 website.

Serial number 5628 N

An AC15 single speaker. As below, thick-edged cabinet; black basketweave vinyl; black vents. Copper control panel. The speaker is silver Celestion T1088. T1088s were introduced in April 1964. Interesting to note, the picture above seems to indicate the presence of a BASS flag on the grille cloth lower right, yet the plate explicitly gives "N" for Normal voicing.

Serial number 5636 N

An AC15 single speaker. Thick-edged cabinet; black basketweave vinyl; black vents. Copper control panel. The speaker is silver Celestion T1088.

Serial number 6609

An AC15 single speaker. Reported by Jim Elyea, p. 529. Possibly a mis-print or mis-read number?

Grey panel Twins, 1964-1968

Serial numbers beginning at 1000. "Bass" voicing "B" stamped on the serial number plate. "Normal" voicing generally had no designation. Following "AC15", a "/T" or "/TW" to indicate "Twin". Bass models were generally not exported to the USA.

The highest serial number encountered so far for a Twin in the old numerical sequence (5000s) is 5537 - see above.

Serial number 1011 N

Twin, still copper panel. Chassis assembled by Westrex. Hand-stamped serial number plate. One of the pots in the preamp has the date code "EK" = December 1963, and a TCC bypass capacitor "UJ" = September 1963. Original EL84s and preamp valves have the Mullard factory paint date code "LA" = January 1964. The speakers are Fane 122/10s, mid grey hammerite, without labels. The amp was sold (at some point in its history) by Mann's of Colchester.

Machine-stamped serial number plates from this point

Serial number 1047 N

Thanks to Tony, a couple of provisional pictures of AC15 Twin serial number 1047N. The original Fane that remains, sprayed Jennings blue at factory (the Fane factory), still has its "Heavy Duty" label.

Serial number 1113 N

Picture from Jim Elyea's "Vox Amplifiers", p. 357.

Serial number 1147 N

Twin, black grille cloth, clack vents, grey control panel. The amp's swivel side stands are still present. Thanks to Stephen for the details and pictures.

Serial number unknown

Grey panel AC15 Twin. Chassis probably assembled under contract for JMI by Triumph Electronics in Purley. The preamp valve sockets are riveted in. Burndept and Westrex used small machine screws. Speakers are now Goodmans Power Range (red label). The chassis slider board replaced at some point.

Serial number 1215

Currently fitted with a pair of T1088 speakers from some other source.

Serial number 1237

Chassis assembled by Westrex. No component date codes visible. The speakers are now a pair of Celestion blues.

Serial number 1262 N

Grey panel Twin, black grille cloth, the "Fifteen Twin" runner still on the front. In the speaker compartment, two Fane 122/10s, one with its Fane label.

Serial number 1358

Pictures only of the front and serial number plate.

Serial number 1359

Chassis assembled by Westrex. Grey panel Twin, black grille cloth, the "Fifteen Twin" runner still on the front. In the speaker compartment, two Fane 122/17s, both with their Fane labels. In the preamp, mostly WIMA signal capacitors and brown 1/2 watt Dubilier resistors. On the electrolytics, date codes "VH" and "VJ" = August and September 1964. The original yellow print Mullard EL84s have paint code "LJ" = September 1964.

NEW

Serial number 1441 B

A "Bass" model, as erial number 1470, below. Purchased in the mid 1960s by an American serviceman stationed in the UK and subsequently taken back by him to the States. The Fanes are serial numbers 30808 and 30810. Thanks to Dan for the pictures and info.

Serial number 1470 B

Grey panel Twin, black grille cloth, "BASS" runner on the front, lower right. The original Fane 122/10s are still present (with VOX labels).

Serial number 1490 B

Picture from Jim Elyea's "Vox Amplifiers", p. 357.

Serial number 1575

Chassis assembled by Triumph. Grey panel; dome voltage selector. In the preamp a mixture of WIMA and Mullard mustard capacitors, one of which has the date code "A4N" = first quarter of 1964. Speakers are Fanes.

Serial number 1640

Chassis assembled by Triumph. Grey panel; dome voltage selector. In the preamp a mixture of WIMA and Mullard mustard capacitors, two with the date code "A5N" = first quarter of 1965. Speakers are Fanes, one with the serial number 32398. In the cabinet, chalked initials "KS".

Back to the page on the AC15, 1962 to 1963.

A selection of material relevant to the AC15 in the 1950s and early 1960s is being gathered together here.