Vox AC30 website updates
July 2021
31st July
Mr and Mrs TJ outside the "British Industries Fair", London, Olympia, May 1954, with Eric Easton. EE was "house" organist for Radio Luxembourg and the Jennings demonstrator at the show (also in 1955). Later he managed the Rolling Stones. The BIF of 1954 was the first major "general" exhibition attended by Jennings. Up to that point, the company had mostly confined its extra-mural activities to "National Accordion Day" (pictures survive of two of its stands in the early 1950s). A page on the Fair of 1954 has been started here.
Picture printed in the Music Trade press, May 1954.
28th July
The page on early Vox AC2s has been updated with further images and annotation. More to come next week.
26th July
Thanks to Mike, some pages from a Jennings catalogue from late 1957 relating particularly to the AC2/30. The first design was modular in nature. The chassis could be removed from the wooden case and used separately as a "cage" amp. It appears that the same was intended initially for the AC1/15, though there is no evidence at present to suggest that this went any further than the planning/prototyping stage. At any rate, no AC1/15 has ever been spotted in a tall case. When the AC1/15 did finally appear in early 1958, its control panel was substantially wider than that of the AC2/30, its box almost square in format and with a TV Front. Thanks to Glen Lambert for his analyses.
Mike is a member of a select group - those who recall working on an AC2/30 (to repair). He said: "They were much bigger and heavier than the pictures suggest. Don’t forget there was a 12” speaker in there. Slotted hardboard radiogram type back panel."
The images above and below are scans from a copy of the catalogue made in the 1990s. The text above has been renewed, following the original. The image of the AC2/30 as cage amp was probably flipped at some point on its way to print in 1957. The control knobs should be on the right-hand side as it faces us.
Note the last line: "The amplifier, which has two chromium lifting handles, is in silver grey, hammered finish".
One of the accompanying price lists - "Deferred Payments".
22nd July
Two reports of "Jennings Organ Company" equipment in Auckland, New Zealand in the mid and later 1950s - Univoxes in Sydney Eady's shop on Queen Street, and a Model A organ put through its paces by the local Organist Association.
October 1955.
January 1957.
20th July
The page on the AC2 has had a first set of updates, more to follow shortly.
19th July
A new page has been set up on the Vox AC2. For the time being, this principally gathers together in one place the info posted below over the last few days. There is a good deal to add though - to be slipped in over the next week or so.
18th July (2)
One of the earliest ads for the Jennings "Model H" organ - February 1958. The speaker is specified as a 12" Goodmans Audiom, the output of the organ, 10 watts. A "booster unit", with two more Goodmans housed in acoustic horns, adds a further 50 watts of power.
18th July
Ac2s: evidently the changes in production noted below (entry for 13th July) took a while to become standard. Serial number 2102, still black panel, has a two-piece back and sideways grille cloth. Number 2137 still has perfboard and upright cloth.
Sideways grille cloth may have come about from a desire to use up remnants - leftovers from rolls that had been used initially for AC10s and AC15s .
16th July (2)
A great pic of a Jennings "Model A" organ being air-freighted un-boxed to the Channel Islands in June 1957.
16th July
Thanks to info from Marc, it seems that when the new pink control panel for the AC2 was introduced in 1962, the electronic layout of the chassis was standardised, or at least improved - a horizontal ground buss rail across the width of the chassis (ie. a common earth point), tidier wiring, more systematic batches of components, etc.
The earliest amp of this new type is now serial number 2211, registered in the list a little way down this page.
15th July (2)
Various updates and corrections are being added to the overview of early AC2s below. Underneath the island control panel cut-out in the single input amps is a thin block of wood covered in fawn vinyl and with drilled holes for the pot shafts and jack. The middle control of the three is for tremolo speed.
Small signal capacitors were black Hunts, and small electrolytics either Hunts or RFT (a subsiduary of Hunts). In two early amps, the main 32uf+32uf filter cap is a CCL with date code "L8" = December 1958.
15th July
The AC2 pictured below has what may be its original valves - white print Mullards, date codes "B9D", "B0B", "B0K", and "L0K". "B" is Blackburn, "L" is Brussels. Dates are April 1959, February 1960, and November 1960.
Jim Elyea gives the caption "early 1960" to his picture of serial number 2020 (also single input, currently in the USA). This must have been an initial estimation. Later in his text, "mid 1960s" is given. But production actually seems to have started a little later than that - last third, or last quarter of 1960.
14th July (2)
Some preliminary pictures of AC2 serial number 2027, single input. There are no obvious signs that a serial number plate was ever affixed, but the number is stamped on the lower back edge. The original round control knobs are present. One of the little legend plates is missing however. The original perfboard back survives, along with three of its screws, so too the cabinet's metal feet.
At present, the only other known single-input AC2 is serial number 2020, currently in the USA. It is possible that others are still extant - in small number though.
14th July
Below, the earliest dated reference that has come to light for the single-speaker AC2/30 - described in a piece by John England, "Accent on Amplification", published in the music trade press, October 1957. It seems likely that the amp was ready in some form for the round of Trade Shows in August of that year.
13th July
Recently come to light a single-input AC2 from the last third of 1960 - very scarce these days. Detailed pictures to follow (when it arrives). Jim Elyea suggests that AC2s were the first to be produced in the new "split-front" format. This, however, is not certain. Below, a *provisional* overview of these amps:
The AC2 apparently does not appear in any *dated* source until November 1960. Nothing has emerged so far in the promotional literature and adverts from May to September [need to check October]. In November, the AC2 is listed in two versions - two input (17 guineas), and single input (12 guineas) - both are said to be 4 watt amplifiers. Vibrato (tremolo) is stated as being present - updated 15th July: tremolo is present - the middle control knob is for speed.
SERIAL NUMBERS
1) 1960-1961. Fawn or "tan" covering, perforated hardboard back, "AC2" designated on plate, single input or two input versions. Small box with thin edges. Control panel an "island". Two-input AC2s have a black control plate with legends: INPUTS, VOLUME, SPEED, ON/OFF TONE. The single-input version has no plate at all. The legends, printed on black traffolyte, are applied to fawn vinyl stuck a wooden block. Both models have circular, ribbed, black control knobs. Serial numbers begin at 2000.
sn. 2020 - AC2, single input, tan cloth, perforated hardboard back.
sn. 2027 - AC2, single input, fawn cloth, perforated hardboard back. The amp is pictured above (entry for 14th July). Probably original valves, latest date code = Nov. 1960. CCL main filter cap (32uf+32uf) date code "L8" = December 1958. Two pots have codes: "OT-116NI", and "411/9 4 CTB".
sn. 2067 - AC2, two input, fawn cloth, perf. back.
sn. 2104 - AC2, two input, black control panel, fawn cloth, perf. back. Hunts signal capacitors have date codes "WSY" = 15th week 1960. CCL main filter cap (32uf+32uf) date code, letter "L" probably followed by "8", as in serial number 2027, above = December 1958.
sn. 2137 - AC2, two input, black control panel, fawn cloth, perf. back.
number unknown - no plate, fawn cloth, black control panel, round black knobs, no view of back.
2) Late 1961. Mainly as above, but with a two-piece birch ply back, and pink control panel .
sn. 2189 - AC2, two piece back, pink control panel.
3) 1962. Same format of box as above, but with slightly thicker edges. Still the island control panel and pink control panel, but the amplifiers now called AC4. Grille cloth with diamonds orientated sideways. Larger VOX logo. The electronics were laid out in a more consistent manner from this point - a horizontal ground buss rail introduced, tidier wiring, etc.
sn. 2211 - AC4, pink panel, sideways cloth.
sn. 2270 - AC4, pink panel, sideways cloth.
sn. 2394 - AC4, pink panel, sideways cloth.
sn. 2415 - AC4, pink panel, sideways cloth.
From around this point, a new taller box comes in, and the control panel sits in a full cutaway, rather than an "ialand".
Below, a shot of the Dartford Road Works taken in late 1960 / early 1961, published May 1961 - rows of amplifiers waiting to be dispatched. Far right, AC2s? Left-hand side, a second row of blue and grey AC15s (with diagonal division between the colours).
12th July
A relatively late full-page "Jennings Organ Company" advert in the trade press - July 1961 - the latest to have come to light so far. The models encompassed are the: A, D2, C, G, and H. The "Model G" is now priced at the princely sum of 2250 guineas. Versions of the five models remained in the Jennings catalogue through to 1964.
11th July (2)
A further mini-pricelist from 1960 encompassing the new TV Front AC30 Twin; the AC6; various models of AC10, AC15, and single speaker AC/30; and the separate Vibravox unit.
Music trade journal, May 1960.
11th July
A Jennings D2 organ (far right) in the Crane's display at the Welsh Ideal Homes Exhibition, July 1960. Material on the Jennings Organ Company in 1960 is being assembled here - more to come.
Music trade journal, July 1960.
10th July (2)
Thanks to William, pictures of an amp - Treble model - with a serial number probably in the highish 15000s (possibly low 16000s), last third of 1964. The grille cloth is certainly old (ie. not repro) - whether it's the original is hard to say at present. Black cloth had certainly come in by August 1964; but on the other hand, most AC30s went out in brown until the end of the year. Scrim and "Thirty Twin" runner are original. The mullard mustard caps have "B4N" and "B/64" date codes = second quarter of '64.
10th July
A couple of JMI adverts from 1961 illustrating the split-front AC30 Twin in beige, one from May 1961, the other from June. It may be possible to add further dated instances from 1961 in due course. The Shadows of course received their new AC30 Twins (black covering) in March. Dated instances are key. A good number of promotional brochures and so on (in company with early photos) bear no date at all.
In May 1961 the AC30/6 was revamped electronically with the so-called "list of changes". The main body of the circuit diagram is dated 29th April 1960.
Music trade journal, May 1961. Clockwise from top left: floor-standing speaker for organ or PA (adapted from a design by Wharfedale); Jennings D2 organ; lap steel guitar; Meazzi echo unit; AC30; Vox Ace guitar; Vox-branded Reslo ribbon microphone.
Music trade journal, June 1961. The AC30 is 95 guineas; the AC15 70gns; AC10 45gns; AC2 19gns.
9th July (2)
Probably two AC30s (rather than AC15s) in the window of John E. Dallas's shop, Clerkenwell, London, November 1961.
Music trade journal, November 1961.
9th July
At last, contemporary report of the introduction of the TV Front AC30 Twins - published in the music trade press, April 1960. Note that the circuit diagram for the AC30/4 is dated 29th April 1960 - see this page.
Coming soon, further early promotional and documentary material, relating both to organs and amplifiers.
Music trade press, April 1960.
8th July
An advert placed by JMI in the music trade press, January 1963, in advance of the Frankfurt Trade Fair - see this page. The principal new thing was the Continental organ. The AC30 is still represented in beige, though most at this point will have had been covered in black vinyl.
Music trade magazine, January 1963.
7th July
Two pieces from the music trade press, July 1961 - a shipment of console organs to Dublin. The Bank of England inflation calculator reckons that £3,000 in '61 would be around £68,000 today - a good order for a company that was still small.
Music trade magazine, July 1961.
The second piece is important - a new "Stereophonic" series. This in fact is refers to the "Top Boost" units fitted to AC30 Super Twins (with closed-back "pressurised" speaker cabinets).
Note that "production at the moment is in hundreds, and thousands are being prepared....". Given the date - July 1961 - it is probable that some of the amplifier sections in view will have had black control panels, others very early copper.
Music trade magazine, July 1961.
Detail from a Jennings flyer, late 1961 - one of the paragraphs acompanying the image below.
5th July
An advert placed by JMI in a music trade journal in July 1962 in advance of the Russell Hotel Trade Fair in August - a useful dated visual key to the amplifier lines current at the time. At the Fair, new transistor equipment was introduced - the T60 Bass and space-age Transonic "combo". See this page on the Vox AC100 website.
Music trade journal, July 1962.
4th July
Thanks to Michael, a circuit diagram for the AC30 drawn up in Italy by E.M.E. has come to light. The sheet as a whole will be made available shortly. In the information panel, the date of the drawing is given as "17/11/68", On 28th Feb. 1972, the sheet was stamped and signed off. The circuit encompassed is the AC30 Top Boost.
E.M.E - Elettronica Musicale Europea - was the joint venture between Jennings, Thomas Organ, and Eko, set up in mid 1966 in a huge factory in Recanati (a little way south of Ancona), funded in part by the Italian government.
1st July
Below a preview report of the Weill (as in Fenton-Weill) equipment to be exhibited at the Frankfurt Trade Fair in February 1963. Note the new "Twin 30". This was probably what prompted JMI to apply for a Trade Mark for the name - application submitted in March '63. Jennings's success was reported in September 1963, the outcome being that the TM for "Twin 30" was registered, but with no exclusive rights to "Twin" or "30" separately.
"Twin 30" had been used in Jennings adverts and literature from early 1961.
Section of a preview of Weill equipment to be shown at the Frankfurt Fair, February 1963.
Notice, September 1963. Trade Mark originally applied for in March 1963
Updates for October and November 2020.