Vox AC30 website updates
August 2021
27th August
Some notes on the Vox Continental now added on this page. The Trade Mark for the organ was applied for on the 10th December 1962 and published (granted) on the 30th October 1963. The granting was reported in the music trade press in November '63.
Trade press, November 1963. Trade Mark 786138 is the name "Vox", applied for on 15th January 1959 and granted on the 7th October.
Trade Marks gave protection over the name alone. Applications (in the case of Vox) did not always coincide precisely with the beginning of production. Protection for mechanical and electronic innovations came in the form of patents.
The patents plaque in a Continental from mid 1963. Unfortunately the number leads nowhere in the available records of patents applied for. In later advertising Jennings claimed "World Patents" for the organ.
24th August
Below, the circuit diagram for the AC30 drawn up in Italy by E.M.E - thanks to Michael. As noted in the entry for the 4th July further down this page, 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.
The information panel.
The sheet as a whole.
23rd August (2)
Picking up from the entry earlier today, a report of Jenning's first visit to a NAMM show (Chicago, July 1963) and the principal things shown - a full range of electronic equipment including the Continental organ, the Phantom guitar specially featured.
A slightly bendy pic. (apologies) from a bulky collection of music trade journals, August 1963.
23rd August
The page on the Vox Continental (early years) has been updated. Further material to follow.
21st August
Thanks to Marc, the plate of serial number 5238N, an AC30 Super Twin amplifier section with Top Boost on the back panel. The amp, which is currently in the UK, has a known history going back to the 1970s.
20th August
A still of "The Atlantics" playing their hit "Bombora" from a Pathe newsreel released in April 1964, Jim Skaithitis already with an AC30 Super Twin.
"The Atlantics", March/April 1964.
19th August
September 1959: the new organ showroom in the basement of the Jennings shop, 100 Charing Cross Road. The basement had up to this point been the "Accordion Centre".
Music trade press, September 1959.
18th August
Thanks to Peter, a Vox advert - probably from "Music Maker" (AU), 1964 - featuring Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs. Thorpe, who sadly passed away in 2007, was posthumously appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for services to music. The page on Vox in Australia has been updated (and tidied up slightly).
13th August
Entries have now been created for a further six AC30 Twins: serial numbers 15084T, 15419B, 15424T, 16110TB, 16580T and 16941T. Pictures to follow.
Two changes gradually come in - beginning in the high 15000s (the lowest sn. being 15867), new-style dome voltage selectors; and in the mid 16000s, black grille cloth. Also in the 16000s, textured vinyl (a sort of "Levant") was used for a time instead of basketweave.
12th August
AC30 Twins registered earlier today: serial numbers 8048N, 10137N, 10380N, 11657TB, 12784T, 13099T, 14471T, 14537T, 15725B. 15952TB. More to come in the coming days.
11th August
Some updates to the main AC30 pages coming shortly - a spread of amps from 1963-1967.
8th August
A JMI advert for the AC30 Twin in the music trade press, October 1963, missing its picture of the AC30 Twin. An error at the printers?
Music trade press, October 1963. The Sounds that Jimmy Somebody will like.
5th August
The AC1/15's changing name in mid to late 1959:
July: the amplifier is now also termed the "AC15".
Late September: "AC/15" echoing the "AC/30" (first advertised in June).
By early October: "AC15" ("Model AC15") had become the settled form, retained thereafter. Perhaps trifling, but JMI was evidently moving in stages towards consistent designations. By December 1959, the line of Jennings amplifiers was: the AC6, AC10, AC15 and AC30.
One can see the same process at work in the serial number plates, though it may be that changes took longer to feed in and were piecemeal initially.
The plates of serial numbers 3582 and 3730. An amp with a speaker dated July 1959 and Hunts capacitors with late May codes has a "Jennings Organ Company" plate stamped "AC15". Its serial number is not clear though.
Detail from a Jennings ad in "Accordion Times", July 1959. Both "AC1/15" and "AC15".
"Melody Maker" magazine, 26th September, 1959. "Model AC/15".
"Melody Maker" magazine, 3rd October, 1959. "Model AC15".
4th August
A page on the AC1/15 has been started - available here. For the time being it will just be documents/references and notes through to 1959. More to follow though.
Advert placed in the music trade press, July 1958, in advance of the AMII Trade Fair at the Cafe Royal in September. The AC1/15 is at centre.
Just to note (as an update), that the change from TV Front AC15 to split front evidently took place between serial numbers 4184 and 4212, late 1960.
3rd August
Serial number 5482N - a fine beige AC30 Normal, mid 1962 - now registered, thanks to Steve.
Coming shortly a page gathering together material relating to the AC1/15, TV Front, late 1957 to 1959. For the time being the scope will be confined to documents, but it will probably be necessary to expand the page or pages with examples / illustrations of surviving amps.
2nd August
In early September 1958 Jennings took part for the first time in the "Associated Musical Instrument Industries" Fair, held at the Cafe Royal, a new venue for the show. Stars of the Jennings stand were the Model G organ, the sole three-manual organ (besides the unique example pictured in yesterday's entry) produced by the company, and the Vox AC1/15 amplifier. Jennings reported in the music trade press that orders for the amplifier had been taken from America. AC1/15s in the USA in 1958! The circuit diagram dated March 1958 shows the standard voltage taps: 110v, 130v, 200v, 225v, and 250v, so no modifications will have been needed for export.
Music trade press, September 1958. On the right, the Model G; left background, an AC1/15 and a life-size photo of Bert Weedon using one.
Jennings's report on the show.
Detail from the first circuit diagram for the AC1/15.
1st August
A Jennings organ made for Eric Easton, exhibited at the British Industries Fair, May 1955 - similar in general outline to the J51 "Streamline" (Professional) organ, but with three manuals, and speaker at left instead of right. The "All-Purpose" is likely to have been a one off.
Music trade press, May 1955.
Centre on the fascia, a plaque with the legend "The Jennings Organ Company" and above it, a larger plaque of some sort.
Updates for October and November 2020.