Instances of early thick-edged Vox AC80/100s
Late 1964
Below, a series of pictures from late 1964 showing popular groups with Vox equipment - normally an AC100 SDL, AC100 bass, and AC50 - lent by Jennings Musical Industries for major appearances.
The AC100s have thick-edged boxes, but no corner protectors. For a surviving example of a JMI demonstration / loan amp - serial number 225 - see this page. Other instances of JMI loans can be found here.
Just to note, that thick-edged boxes were envisaged, if not actually being made, in September '64:
"Melody Maker" magazine, 12th September, 1964. The box of the amplifier section is thick-edged and its width given accordingly: 19 3/4 inches.
Two early photos of the AC100 SDL taken before mid October 1964, very probably in September given the image published in "Melody Maker" (above). Note the thick-edged box to amplifier section, the provision of corner protectors all round, and the early trolley with narrow parallel uprights and basket top.
Detail from the image above.
Below, a detail from a JMI brochure produced for the Italian market in the last third of 1964. Note that AC100 depicted is in a thick-edged box with corner protectors.
Thanks to Toni, images from Derek Underdown's copy.
The caption effectively follows the English version released earlier in the year: "100 Watts output, Volume, treble and bass controls. Individual requirements for the soloist sometimes demand more power than is normally For adequate reverse of sheer undistorted power, the A.C.100 is unrivalled."
Gerry and the Pacemakers
A rare colour shot of Gerry and the Pacemakers on stage in late 1964 venue yet to be identified, at back an early AC100 SDL (thick-edged amp). The bass set is a Foundation Bass cab and another AC100 or perhaps AC50. The large letters far left may spell "BEAT".
A detail from the pic. above. The amp has no corner protectors. One can just about see the jutting out of the basket top of an early trolley. For other bands, Beatles excepted, with early AC100s (really AC80/100s), see this page.
Glad Rag Ball, 20th November 1964
Click for a larger image
Above, pictures of Gene Vincent on stage with "The Londoners" at the Empire Pool, Wembley, 20th November 1964. Note: the thick-edged AC80/100 (no corner protectors) and SDL cab, the thin-edged AC80/100 on the drum riser, the early AC50 large-box trolley with a "basket-top" rather than parallel bars, and the Rickenbacker 325 belonging to the guitarist far right (a thing well-known to Rickenbacker afficiandos).
Top of the Pops, mid November 1964
Picture from Getty Images
Detail from the picture above. Note that the amplifier boxes and the SDL cabinet have no corner protectors.
Top of the Pops, December 1964
The Kinks and The Yardbirds (line-up with Eric Clapton) using the same Vox loan gear.
Brenda Lee and Sounds Incorporated. Photo: Chris Walter