Jennings Electronic Industries B50
Solid state; produced from mid 1969 - c. 1973
Detail from the "Jennings News" newspaper-format catalogue produced to accompany the company's display at the Russell Hotel Trade Fair, late August, 1969. The speaker cabinet pictured at left is a JEI B3.
The blurb reads: "50 watt Bass Amplifier at 8 ohms with two inputs. Dimensions 18" x 8" x 7 1/2" with volume, treble and bass controls. Supplied with one 15" loudspeaker cabinet, dimensions 23" x 19" x 16". Alternatively, a twin 12" loudspeaker cabinet Type T50, dimensions 28" c 22" x 10" may be used."
The B50 was developed alongside the O50 and O100 for organ, and the B100 for bass. Pages on these models - all fully solid state and modular in nature - are available on the main index page. They are good sounding amps. Put away any notion of the natural poorness of transistors. For an overview of the JEI "O" and "B" series amps, see this page.
Formal presentation of the range as whole took place at the British Musical Instrument Industries Fair at the Russell Hotel in late August, 1969. The report can be found at the foot of this page. However, it should be said that the O100 and B100, and perhaps the O50 and B50, had already been shown at the Frankfurt Fair in February - see this page.
The early versions of the O100 and B100 illustrated in "The Jennings Scene" brochure of early 1969 were evidently try-outs or pre-production units. The examples actually exhibited at Frankfurt were of the type subsequently shown in London.
Prices
"Beat Instrumental" magazine, February 1970.
Jennings pricelist, December 1972.
Brief list of prices published in June 1973 shortly before the range was deleted from the Jennings catalogue.
In terms of topology, the amp's power section is the same as that of the JEI PA50 and the O50. Its preamp is the same as that of the B100.
Provision was made across the range for the sending of the preamp signal out (PRE AMP OUT) and the amplification of a signal from an external source by the power section (MAIN AMP IN).
The B50, O50 and PA50 had two speaker sockets, the B100, O100 and PA100 had four.
From mid 1969, assembly of various items produced by Jennings was taken on by A.P.T. Electronics at its factories in Byfleet and Ascot. The solid state amps, however, are likely to have been made for Tom by Triumph Electronics in Purley - see the page on the JEI O50.
The wooden cabinets (cases) are likely to have been produced by Henry Glass.
In August 1973 the O- and B-series amplifiers were superceded by a new range done out in a striking purple livery. The catalogue is available here.
A selection of details
Pictures to illlustrate various aspects of the amp. Although the chassis are not formed from the thickest metal, the case is solid and strong, offering the best possible protection. When the amp is switched on the front panel is illuminated by a series of small bulbs hidden by the overhang of the wooden case.
Speakers were Goodmans 15", either Audiom 80s or Power Range, around 50-60 watts handling (given the closed back of the enclosure), 8 ohms.
Sales were strong in Europe, where most of the surviving amps are to be found - some extremely clean examples, one with its original set of covers.
