Preamble

It is probably worth saying as preliminary that Jennings - "Jennings Musical Instruments Limited" and the "Jennings Organ Company" as it was at the time - had certainly begun exporting equipment to Commonwealth countries in the Southern Hemisphere by the mid 1950s. Below, some early material from New Zealand:

Music trade press picture, October 1955. Sydney Eady's shop was on Queen Street, Auckland, a little way along from his uncle's - Arthur Eady Music. Sydey's brother Alfred attended at least two early meetings of the "Associated Musical Instrument Industries" committee in London. There's a good biography of the Eadys on this page.

The "Upper Hutt Leader", 23rd February, 1956.

New Zealand papers also carried news of the annual "British Instrument Fairs" held at various venues in London in the '50s. Home from home.

Although no similarly early advert from Australia has come to light so far, it is clear from the small ads in the "Sydney Morning Herald", that the Univox keyboard was present and available from at least 1954. The earliest illustrated ad., certainly where the Herald is concerned, seems to be the one below, from September 1958:

The "Sydney Morning Herald", 9th September, 1958.

Note that the Univox is simply the Univox, not the Jennings Univox. Mention of Jennings / Vox amplifiers does not come until later.

1963-1968

This at present is principally an overview. A particularly valuable source is hard to come by - "Music Maker" magazine, a popular Australian musical periodical that had its beginning in the jazz world of the 1940s. It is not to be confused with the English magazine of the same name which ran for around 18 months from late 1966. Info from Music Maker (AU) will be posted as it comes to hand.

Where Sydney is concerned, the first shop to mention the arrival of Vox equipment was "Guitar City" in the "Sydney Morning Herald", 15th March, 1963. Note the presence of "soon":

The entry above is from the "Sydney Morning Herald", 23rd March, 1963, simply for the sake of clarity. The entry is exactly the same as the one placed a week earlier.

"The Steeds" with a short Tom Echo unit and two AC30 Twins from the first half of 1963 or earlier. Both have leather handles. The amps were presumably imported prior to the distribution deal struck by JMI with Nicholson's in Spring 1964.

"Music Maker", July 1965.

The first indication that Vox equipment was actually available at "Guitar City" came on the 11th May 1964:

"Sydney Morning Herald", 11th May, 1964.

Nicholson's followed suit a few days later, having mentioned very little relating to Vox in its adverts up to this point ("new Vox guitars" on 15th December, 1963, but nothing else):

"Sydney Morning Herald", 16th May, 1964.

Below, June 1964, one of the first full page ads for Vox - "now for the first time in Australia" - in the Australian music press: "... due to particularly heavy demand only 10 and 15 watt models available at present.". "Exclusive" was a "Tom Jennings" word, first used in relation to JMI's distribution of Fender guitars and amplifiers in 1960. It did not mean "sole distributor". Adverts from mid June 1964 make Nicholson's role explicit however.

June 1964. Thanks to Martin for the image.

Also June 1964, a handsome ad in the Beatles' Australian Tour programme, and larger illustrated ads in the "Sydney Morning Herald", the first explicit mentions of Nicholson's as "sole distributor".

Nicholson's advert in The Beatles' Australian Tour programme. The Tour ran from 12th-30th June, 1964

"Sydney Morning Herald", 17th June, 1964.

Below, an advert placed in the "Canberra Times", 29th June, 1964, by Donoghoe's Music Centre, Queanbeyan (nr Canberra). Donoghoe's had signalled the availability of Vox amplifiers on 15th June, but only as part of a general indication of what was in stock.

"Canberra Times", 29th June, 1964. The ad is a version of the one placed by Nicholson's earlier in the month in the "Sydney Morning Herald".

Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. Probably "Music Maker" (AU) magazine, mid to late 1964. Note the mention (as below) of Nicholson's of Sydney, Sykes in Melbourne, and Grice-Nicholson's in Brisbane. Thanks to Peter for the image.

"Music Maker" (AU) magazine, late 1964.

1965

An advert placed by Nicholson's for Vox in "Music Maker" magazine, May 1965. Three notable absences: the AC50 Super Twin (for guitar); AC100; and Continental organ. It may be that they were either out of stock or perhaps not felt to be appropriate for this advert.

May 1965.

Below, "The Impacs" from Lismore, New South Wales, with a Vox Foundation Bass; two AC30 Twins; an Expanded Frequency AC30; and a Continental (with something over its keys). All are likely to have been imported by Nicholson's in Sydney.

Expanded Frequency AC30s did not sell particularly well (and it is rare to find bands pictured with them), so if one turns up in Australia ...

May 1965.

The cover of "Music Maker" magazine, July 1965 - "The Steeds" with a short Tom Echo unit and two AC30 Twins from the first half of 1963 or earlier. Both have leather handles. The amps were presumably imported prior to the distribution deal struck by JMI with Nicholson's in Spring 1964.

July 1965.

1966 and later

Various pricelists and catalogues were printed by JMI for Nicholson's (and Sykes in Melbourne):

1966 prices. Picture from Jim Elyea's book, collection: Martin Kelly. Note that the "AC30 Expanded Frequency Twin Fifteen" is still available.

Late 1966 - promotional brochure for the solid state range, available in full here.

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