General

The castors used by JMI were normally 2" in diameter, dull bronze or plain metal finish, and with two main types of stem: (1) smooth stems - 5/16" in diameter, some straight, others tapered - for use in chrome frames/sockets without threaded inserts; or (2) with 5/16" British Standard Whitworth (BSW) threaded stems for frames that had nuts/inserts welded at foot.

A variety of plastic and metal sleeves were available for the former - to enable the stem of the castor to grip firmly in tubes or sockets wider than 5/16". Black plastic sleeves are the norm in AC30 stands in late 1963 and throughout 1963.

In later 1964 and early 1965 wheeled rather than ball castors were introduced across the range (for AC30 stands and trolleys as well as for AC50s, AC100s, and so on). A page on early AC30 stands can be found here.

The foot of an early AC100 trolley with "basket top", late 1964 / early 1965, showing the insert for a Shepherd ball castor with a 5/16" BSW threaded stem.

Fancy castors for promotions

Black and white Kenrick Shepherd castors, 2" in diameter - fitted by JMI to stands and trolleys used for promotional purposes, mainly in 1963.

Late March 1963, the first sighting of McCartney's 2 x 15" cabinet and wheeled stand. Below a pair of black and white Shepherd castors with 5/16" threaded stems, exceedingly scarce these days.

Now and again one sees the 2 x 15" on stage with its dolly and castors - Fairfield Hall, Croydon, for instance, April '63.

(2) - a promotional shot taken not long after McCartney received his new AC30 Super Twin amplifier section in August 1963. Note the black and white castors on its stand. No concert photo has come to light so far showing his stand with castors, so they may have been removed soon after. Neither John nor George had stands with castors at this time.

August 1963, a small detail from a promotional photo of the Beatles with their line-up of Vox amps, black and white castors on Paul's 2 x 15" cabinet dolly and AC30 stand.

A further JMI promotional photo survives showing an AC30 Twin also on a stand with parti-coloured castors. It may be possible to post this in due course.

(3) - the stand supporting an AC10 Super Reverb Twin amplifier section in various adverts issued in early 1963:

Detail from "The Shadows Modern Electric Guitar Tutor", 1963 edition.

(4) - a detail from a studio photo of the Stones with Vox equipment taken by Dezo Hoffman. The cabinets supplied to Dezo by Jennings were generally empty - no chassis or speakers within.

Detail from one of Dezo Hoffman's studio pictures of the Stones, Brian Jones holding aloft an empty T60 amplifier section cabinet.