Jennings Electronic Developments (and Industries) - 1969-1970

Part 2 of 6

Trade Fairs aside, one of the most significant events for Jennings in 1969 was the link-up with the APT Electronic Industries group of Byfleet - a further sub-contracting out of production. Triumph Electronics, which had done a good amount of work for Tom in JMI days, also remained on the books (as contractor), producing runs of amps in both 1968 and 1969 - the 100 watt PA amp, released by Tom in '68, was actually a Triumph/JMI design that had been shown at the Russell Hotel Trade Fair in August 1967. At any rate, the arrangement with APT allowed Jennings not only to add to the range but to increase production significantly.

During the course of the year organ and bass amplifiers were introduced - 50 and 100 watt models - further speaker cabinets, and the new J70 and J71 two and three-manual organs. The J71 in particular caused quite a stir in the music trade.

Hand in hand with the expansion came a change of name. "Jennings Electronic Industries" replaced "Jennings Electronic Developments" by the time of the Russell Hotel Trade Fair in late August.

1969

Music trade journal, February 1969 - Tom with customers at his stand, Frankfurt 1969. At left one can make out a PA amplifier, on the wall upper right, at least five Jennings pedals.

Below, an ad placed by Tom in the music trade press, February 1969 - in advance of the Frankfurt Fair. A similar ad was published in Melody Maker (below).

Seven models of pedal - all rotary action - are said to be available. Three certainly, perhaps others, had been shown at the Russell Hotel Fair in August '68 along with the J40 and J100 combo amplifiers and at least one type of Line Source PA speaker column.

The rotary speaker sets, expressly said not to be "Pulsation" units (the name that Jennings used for the equivalent of the Vox "Gyrotone"), were new in February '69.

Music trade journal, February 1969.

Melody Maker magazine, 22nd February, 1969

Melody Maker magazine, 22nd February, 1969. Repeated on 1st March.

Above, a short preview of the Frankfurt Music Fair (Musikmesse) of 1969 from Beat Instrumental magazine, February 1969, signalling new additions to the range - surprises.

Tom's stand (315A), Frankfurt Musikmesse, February 1969.

JEI, July 1969

"Beat Instrumental" magazine, July 1969 - an article on amplifiers - Tom Jennings still advocating solid state.

JEI, July 1969

Music industry report, July 1969.

Beat Instrumental magazine, July 1969

"Beat Instrumental" magazine, July 1969. A great advert for "Jennings Electronic Developments" rotary speaker cabinets and the J100 combo. "Jennings Electronic Developments" became "Jennings Electronic Industries" a month or so later.

Below, a review of the Jennings Electronic Industries display at the Russell Hotel Trade Fair, August 1969. A couple of things worth highlighting: (1) the K1 keyboard does not appear to found its way into general production. This is the only image that has come to light to date. (2) The Attack Percussion unit, for which a full-page advert was taken out in September 1969, is said to be subject to world patents. As for the patent or patent-applied for number, none seems to have been printed in any of the obvious places. Perhaps one will eventually come to light.

August 1969. The text of the review was repeated without the illustration of the K1 in "Melody Maker" magazine.

Below, Tom at Fair, August 1969, with the new Jennings Electronic Industries J69 organ. The range at this point was the J68 (two manual) and the J69 (three manual, as pictured) - briefly described and illustrated in the "Jennings News" brochure printed to accompany the display at the Fair. Early adverts, however, tend to show the organs without model number.

In early 1970, the J68 and J69 became the J70 and J71 when "walking bass" was added to the lower manual. The "J" prefix it should be said goes right back to the early days of the "Jennings Organ Company". Tom's first organs, 1953-1955, were the J48-J52. For an overview of the early organs, see .

Published September 1969. Note the white "Attack Percussion" add-on box under the keyboard at left.

Jennings Electronic Industries at the British Musical Instrument Trade Fair, August 1969

Above one of two pics said (in a printed source) to be from the Trade Fair of 1968. They are actually, however, from 1969 - the range is extensive and includes the new organs. Note too that Cliff and the Shadows appear in the poster at left. They are expressly said to be endorsees in the Beat Instrumental report from the '69 show, for which see below.

The Shadows as they were in 1970, Copenhagen. Picture from Getty Images.

Beat Instrumental magazine, September 1969

The second full page advert placed by Jennings in "Beat Instrumental" magazine, September 1969. Repeated in October. Note that the company is now "Jennings Electronic Industries", though the change had probably taken place earlier in the year.

A note in the September 1969 issue.

Beat Instrumental magazine, October 1969
4

"Beat Instrumental", October 1969. Brief report of the British Musical Instrument Trade Fair of August. Perhaps the most striking item is the "rotary speakers RLS 5 for PA use"

Perhaps a little known fact. By mid 1969, Tom Jennings had become principal UK agent for American-made Kustom amps in all their glory - outlandish padded upholstery exteriors, ports at front, and gargantuan proportions. Below, a couple of pics from trade reports: Tom and Chuck McKinney of Kustom, and a shot of the Jennings/Kustom room (part of a full-page montage of various stands) at the Russell Hotel Trade Fair, late August '69.

The buzz-words around the wall are: "Performance", "Quality", "Durabiility", "12(?) Models", "Power", "Appearance", "Sound".

"Melody Maker" magazine, 13th November, 1969. Special magazine section on organs.

On to the next page of pieces on JEI (1970-1971).

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