Vox AC30 website updates

July 2024

25th July

Cooke and Son Ltd of Peterborough, 6th November, 1959 - an advert for the Vox AC1/10. Early shop and dealer ads are naturally fairly variable, sometimes mentioning models (for the AC1/15 see the first entry for 24th July below), more often perhaps only the names of manufacturers - along the lines of "amplifiers by Vox, Selmer, Trix, Supersound, always in stock".

The earliest dated JMI advert for the AC1/10 currently known is from June 1959.

Cooke remained a Vox dealer through to 1968, affixing its "Everything Musical" label on a number of amps - below a Vox Dynamic Bass.

6th November, 1959.

Vox Dynamic Bass, mid 1967.

24th July (2)

A couple of notices of demonstrations of the "fabulous Vox Echo", mid 1960, .

Bristol, May 1960.

King's Lynn, June 1960.

24th July

Three relatively early shop adverts for the Vox AC1/15 in the mainstream press: Manchester, late October 1958 ("Vox Multi-Purpose Amplifier"); Peterborough, mid December 1958; and Bristol, May 1959 ("Vox AC1/15 Hi-Fi Amplifier"):

Manchester, 23rd October, 1958. Swan's had been signed up by Jennings as a distributor of its organs a few years earlier.

Peterborough, 13th December, 1958. Cooke's sold Vox amps through to 1968.

Bristol, 29th May, 1959.

23rd July

A page has now been started on the by the ladies who made them ready for use, fitting grille cloth, handles, speakers and so on.

"DB" on the inside of the baffle of AC30 Super Twin amplifier section, serial number in the 5400s, mid 1962.

22nd July

A further repro plate with repro stamping made by Eric Snowball has been :

Repro plate, repro stamping.

20th July

Entries for two more Vox Domino Super Reverb Twins - serial numbers 2058 and 2531, the lowest and highest known at present.

19th July

A page on Vox footswitches for switching the Vib/Trem in and out has .

18th July

Thanks to Glen, pictures of , early 1963:

AC30 Twin serial number 6430, early 1963.

17th July (2)

Some more on footswitches. Below, the two main types of early 1960s casting supplied with AC15s and AC30s (for switching the vib/trem in and out). On the left, the earlier of the two, 3 7/8" in diameter, with a two-part profile. On the right, the later type, 3 3/4" in diameter, a plainer domical profile.

The first type goes back to late 1960. A number of early examples were evidently painted black / dark grey at some point, possibly from factory.

The second type came in around AC15 serial numbers 4600-4700 and AC30 serial numbers 5500-5600 (mid 1962).

The screened cable was normally 8 feet in length, give or take a few inches.

Earlier type on the left, later at right.

17th July

Thanks to Garry, pictures of single speaker AC15 serial number 5230N, mid 1963, one of the earliest to have come to light with basketweave vinyl. The main AC15 index page .

AC15 serial number 5230N

15th July

Entry removed for the time being - one of the measurements given needs to be checked.

14th July

A quick shot of some Dubilier carbon comp resistors, packaged for retail: 1 watt, Type "BTA", tolerance 10% (either way); and 1/2 watt, Type "BTT", also 10% tolerance. Both were used by Westrex in the chassis it assembled for JMI: 1 watt resistors for the AC80/100; and from the Spring of 1962, 1/2 watt for the AC30 - first instances in amps with serial number in the 5200s.

Westrex will have bought its stock wholesale, in large cardboard boxes perhaps containing a gross (144 = one dozen dozens) each of a designated value.

12th July

Thanks to Jay, some info just in on an AC30 Super Twin amplifier section from mid 1962, serial number probably originally in the . A number of the black WIMA Tropydur signal capacitors are still present in its preamp.

The latest dated "fixed" component on the chassis seems to be the tone pot - "DJ" = April 1962. Two of the original white-print Mullard ECC83s have 1961 date codes, a third has "B2D1" = 1st week of April 1962 for its manufacture.

Further details to come.

11th July

A page has been started on .

The example below, stamped with two sets of stamps, was one of a series produced by the late Eric Snowball, proprietor of ESE Music in Maidstone, and a former employee of JMI.

10th July

Thanks to Glen, a set of pictures of AC30 Twin, serial number 18216TB, probably third quarter of 1965, .

AC30 Twin, serial number 18216.

9th July

Thanks to Paul again, a set of pictures of , later 1966; and a set of pics of , "Vox Sound Equipment Limited", assembled in Italy, second half of 1969.

8th July

Thanks to Paul, pictures of AC30 Twin serial number 21202, later 1966, . Its Celestion T1088s are dated 18th and 19th July, 1966. An entry for the amp has also been made on the page for . Where Twins are concerned, speakers are consistently the latest dated or dateable element (ie. later than any of the components in the chassis of the amp).

AC30 Twin serial number 21202.

7th July (2)

The footswitches below survive with two Vox amps - (1) an AC30 from late 1964 repaired by Alan Pyne, and (2) a solid state Foundation Bass amplifier section from 1967.

The common thread may be Alan Pyne, though there is no sticker in the Foundation Bass's cabinet. Whether Pyne had these made up or was simply re-using old JMI stock (of some sort) is not known.

Thanks to William for the pictures.

Switch that came with a Vox Foundation Bass, the din plug strapped with tape.

7th July

Thanks to Dean, a set of pictures of AC30 Twin serial number 14010T, mid 1964, .

AC30 Twin serial number 14010T.

6th July

The humble dome voltage selector, introduced in the late summer / autumn of 1964, a little more complex inside than one might initially give it credit for.

The thin brass solder tags for the voltage taps from the mains transformer are a definite weak point. The one selected for regular / normal use tends to become especially brittle.

Below, a shot of another dead one, dismantled:

(1) the main lower body with the ends of the brass tags around the inner brass disc.

(2) the brass inner disc that sits flat on the disc in the body of the selector. The "L" shaped extension makes contact with the ends of the brass tags.

(3) the bearing holder. The holder goes bearing-face down on top of (2). The bearings, which bump in and out of the holes in the inner disc, produce that familiar "click" as the selector is turned. Reassembling the mechanism requires some care (and patience).

(4) the top, with (removable) spring and washer on a central pin, keeps the various elements in tension.

(5) washers to lock the central pin of the top in place on the underside of the main body.

The earliest instance of a dome selector that has come to light to date on an AC30 Twin is serial number 14934T. Such selectors are always to be found on grey panel AC30s, not so far copper.

5th July

The checking of chassis by subcontractors prior to dispatch to JMI:

At Westrex, there were two inspections: (1) of the solder joints, which were marked by the checker with red dye to indicate that they were good; and (2) a final general inspection and signing off, a blue tag attached to the mains cable. The page on Westrex tags .

At Burndept, there were also two inspections: (1) unspecified - simply "1st Inspection"; (2) much as at Westrex, a final inspection and signing off. Tags were attached at both stages, the first at right, the second at left. Probably at first inspection, chassis were also stamped in purple with the Burndept stamp - see the entry for 15th June, further below on this page, for an example of the type employed in late 1964.

BURNDEPT 1st Inspection

AC30 Twin serial number 11715, Spring 1964.

AC100 serial number 1579, Spring 1966.

BURNDEPT 2nd Inspection

AC30 Super Twin Reverb serial number 4313, mid to late 1965. The chassis also has its "1st Inspection" tag.

AC50 Super Twin serial number 7139, early 1967.

4th July

Some shots from the first third of 1960 featuring the Jennings promotional AC1/15 with extra-large logo (for enhanced visibility) - The Shadows; and Terry Wayne, probably with Eric Delaney. The organ is a Compton Electone.

Given the presence of the white handle, the amp in all likelihood was an early one - first circuit, mid 1958 - retained by JMI for endorsement photos (and loans). Amplifiers with standard logos were generally used in printed adverts.

At least two photos featuring The Shadows with the amp were taken on the day, one with Cliff, the other without.

The image above is from the first edition of Shirley Douglas's "Easy Guide to Rhythm and Blues for Bass Guitar", published in the late autumn of 1960. A version of the picture had been published - in a JMI advert - in the music press in April 1960.

Terry Wayne - with Eric Delaney (?). Thanks to Martin for the picture.

It is clear from the picture below that the amp was also lent out by Jennings for events - in this instance the NME Poll Winners Concert, 21st February, 1960.

Detail from a photo taken at the NME Poll Winners' Concert, 21st February, 1960. The handle missing?

3rd July

The relative scarcity of AC30 Twins with serial numbers in the high 18000s is likely to be a consequence of the major fire at the Vox Works in Erith - the West Street Works - in early December 1965.

The chassis of AC30 Twin serial number 18216 has at least one component dated June 1965 (thanks to Glen for the info.), so final assembly of the amp as a whole (ready for sale) probably late summer.

AC30 Super Twins - none currently known with numbers in the 4600s.

Where AC100s are concerned, there is a significant gap between serial numbers 1115 and 1153 (as signalled on the Vox AC100 website).

AC50s - some larger than usual gaps in the 4500s and 4600s.

AC10 Twins - currently a large gap in the serial number range low 2600s to mid 2700s.

AC15 Twins - perhaps escaped the fire.

From a report of the fire in the local Dartford press, December 1965. The mention of "Beatles type amplifiers" by Reg Clark, JMI's General Sales Manager, means AC100s.

Following the fire, production started again fairly swiftly in a building nearby made available to JMI by Burndept Electronics, which owned the West Street Works and had rented it (in part) to JMI from mid 1964.

2nd July (2)

Thanks to Paul, pictures of a superb AC10 Twin from late on in 1964 .

AC10 Twin serial number 1956.

2nd July

Some quick shots taken a while ago of AC15 serial number 4229N, split front, probably very early 1961, posed precariously on a drummer's stool. The speaker is either an early Celestion T530 or a CT3757. At some point, the original output transformer failed and was replaced.

An entry for the amp has been created on the page for early . It evidently took a while for the last of the TV Front AC15s to make their way into the world - serial numbers 4254N and 4261B are still of that type, two-tone slate grey and oatmeal vinyl.

1st July (2)

Thanks to Jason, pics of AC30 Expanded Frequency (2 x 15" speakers) serial number 568 have been . Entries for a further four AC30Xs have also been incorporated.

AC30X serial number 568.

1st July

The page on has now been updated and revised by Glen Lambert with new information relating to the Vox AC10 mark Ia. A new page has been created for the , late 1960 to early 1962.

Both pages can also be found via the main .

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