A photo taken at the party for the opening of the Jennings shop. "Melody Maker" magazine, 16th December, 1950. Allan Billington is standing to the left of Tom Jennings.

An artist's impression of the Jennings Shop (the "Accordion Centre") from an advert in "Accordion Times", July 1957.

In November 1950, Tom Jennings announced the the imminent opening of a shop at 100 Charing Cross Road, the lease of which (the building as a whole) had been acquired for the purpose. The opening party took place in mid December.

"Accordion Times", March 1956, a picture of a small display in 100 Charing Cross Road inset.

The manager of the new venture was Allan Billington, a skilled accordionist. Accordions were all the rage in the 1950s. Competitions and exhibitions took place not only at club level, but nationally too under the auspices of the "National Accordion Association". Its principal event was a competition with numerous heats culminating in a day appointed as "National Accordion Day".

For larger venues, amplification was naturally an advantage, and various companies started producing units to meet the need - notably Selmer and Westbourne Sound Equipment (W.S.E.). Jennings recommended and stocked W.S.E., Selmer being a rival two doors along at 114 Charing Cross Road.

For the better part of the 1950s these amplifiers were promoted as being "multi-purpose" - good for accordion, guitar, organ, public address, and the amplifying of a radio or record player. Jennings began making its own units in 1954, along with a variety of accessories. A page documenting these early amps will be available in due course.

Interestingly, the end of Allan Billington's stint as manager of the Jennings shop coincides with the creation of the "Jennings Accordion Centre" in its basement in the Spring of 1956.

"Accordion Times", May 1956. The new "Accordion Centre".

Whether the setting up of the Centre followed Allan's leaving or was in part the reason for it is not known. At any rate, he set up shop for himself first in Bexleyheath (30 Broadway), then in Welling, remaining in business there until the 1980s. That his departure from JMI was on good terms may perhaps be gauged from the fact that he regularly sold Vox equipment - principally amplifiers, up to the AC30 in terms of size, and the occasional organ.

"Kentish Times", 9th October, 1959.

The shop in Bexleyheath and his van, late 1950s. Picture from the Bexley photo archive.

"Melody Maker" magazine, 5th September, 1964. Two AC30s in stock.

The shop label on a Farfisa organ. Thanks to Simon for the pic.

Allan's shop label on an AC30 serial number plate.

Below, a short note and picture in the music trade press, April 1965, relating to Allan's sale of an Epiphone Emperor. To give some context, the Vox Guitar-Organ, in all its complexity, sold for around £200 at the time.

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