Goodmans 18" Audiom Bass Speakers
The Goodmans Audiom 90 (1959-63) - 50W power handling
The Goodmans Audiom 90 was the first British-made 18" bass driver. The magnet was alnico. Its primary purpose was as an organ speaker. It seems to have done service in cinemas too. There were several iterations (as usual with Goodmans) and 6ohm, 8ohm and 15ohm versions. These are fairly rare these days and when they do come onto the market, fabulously expensive.
Above, an early example from the early 1960s - 6ohms.
Click as ever for larger images. Pages from a Goodmans catalogue and pricelist from 1961. Both have been put online in their entirety on this index page on the Vox AC50 website.
A later 15ohm version. It is likely that these were used by Vox in the earliest Foundation Bass speaker cabinets. The Celestion 18" T1074, which came on to the market in early 1964, was adopted for around six months thereafter. A label for the Audiom 90 15ohm unit is preserved in the book of labels kept by the firm that did the printing for Goodmans - see this page.
The Goodmans 18" Audiom 91 Bass Speaker - 50W and 100W power handling
In late 1964 / early 1965, Vox moved back to Goodmans - the new Audiom 91 with a more cost effective ceramic magnet. There were two versions: 50W, 15-16 ohms (black label) - this came first. Then 100W power handling, 8 ohms (blue label). The 50W version was the version normally used in the Foundation Bass speaker cabinets that accompanyied Vox AC50s.
Click as ever for larger images. In 1964, the Audiom 91 cost £27 10 shillings. This was the speaker's first appearance in a pricelist. In 1963 it was still the Audiom 90.
Above, an early Goodmans flyer for the 50 watt, 15ohm driver. There was a "Standard" version for bass guitar and public address applications, and a "Bass" for organs and cinemas.
The fundamental frequency of the "Bass" version was 30c/s and of the "Standard" version 55c/s.
Labels - original unused.
Black label - 15/16 ohms (normally) - 50W
Used singly in Foundation bass cabs accompanying AC50s, and in pairs of cabs accompanying AC100s. If two cabs were plugged into an AC100, the amp's impedance would be set at 8ohms. This is the speaker most commonly used by JMI.
Blue label - 8 ohms (normally) - 100W
With power handling of 100W, these could be used singly with AC50s or AC100s. The die-cast frames are substantial.
8ohm Audiom 91 in a Foundation Bass cab. Probably designed to accompany an AC50
A Goodmans unit from 1967 with a new "...Manufactured for Jennings Musical Industries" label. Stocks of these passed to Vox Sound Equipment Ltd, the company that sprang from the ashes of JMI.
FANE 183 - 16ohms - 60W
Used relatively infrequently by both Vox and Selmer for their bass cabs. Later versions of the speaker became more popular in the 1970s with the rise of other British amp manufacturers, notably Hiwatt.
Click as ever for larger images. A Fane speaker pricelist (undated) from the 1960s. The 183 was £25 4 shillings - cheaper therefore than the Goodmans Audiom 91 by £1 16 shillings.
A Fane speaker in a Foundation Bass cab supplied with an AC50 with a serial number in the 3000s (mid to late 1965).
Above, a Selmer bass cabinet, probably from the early 1970s, Fane 183 in place.