supplied by Peter Gladwish. photos by Dave Trodd © Vox. http://www.voxshowroom.com/equipment/index.html
Peter Gladwish… In 1970, Birch-Stolec Industries purchased the VOX name and company, moving their manufacturing facilities from Erith, Kent, to Ponswood Industrial Estate, St Leonards. At the same time, Rick Huxley, former bass guitarist with the Dave Clark Five, joined the company as the Southern Area Sales Executive. This sales brochure was produced for VOX by Berfolt-Holt Design Ltd., St Leonards, where a friend and fellow band member, Cliff Brooker was employed. Now don’t laugh too much but I was asked to ‘pose’ with various musical instruments and equipment, in case viewers were unsure how to use them, I suppose! The photo-shoot took place in the basement of the Hi-Fi Club, High Street, Hastings Old Town and the photographer was Dave Trodd . The club owner is in the photo above( photo 5) but I can’t remember his name. If you know him, or remember him, please let me know. The Hi-Fi Club burned down in allegedly ‘suspicious’ circumstances around 1978. Again, if anyone has any more details, please let me know. You can learn more about the history of VOX on the website link above, where this brochure is featured.
Kevin Burchett… The club owner of the hi fi was aa chap called guy not sure of his surname he used to come to scalliwags with monkey Dave i saw him last year in Morrisons.
Alan Esdaile… This is definitely not Guy. Guy rang the HIFI with his brother. Anyone remember who this is?
Ralph Town… Wish they were still there,I,d take a job on those valves and pcbs
Colin Fox… I had one. You can see it behind me on the right. I seem to remember Rev Stockdale worked there for a while.
Paul Dengate… Vox also had a workshop in Beaconsfield Road.
Caz Simpson… The man in question resembles a man Guy and Dave hired as a bouncer at the club. I thought the brothers were the owners because they lived there and rented rooms to Jack and George.
Peter Gladwish… Clearly, the man in this pic with me was not the owner of the Hi-Fi Club (Guy McFarlane), as I had always thought and no-one seems to know his name. As he was the one who unlocked, plyed us with drinks and was hanging around all day, whilst Dave Trodd arranged the shots, I just assumed he was the boss-man. Thanks anyway for all your contributions. Apparently, Stuart Moir also worked at Vox in Beaconsfield Rd., Colin Fox & Paul Dengate. Anyone else out there with any memories?
Caz Simpson… I saw Guy some years back, he was running a bar in Battle. Sadly I heard Dave died, his wife was a lovely lady who had been a bunny girl. There was a good deal of suspicion about how the club burned down. Guy and Dave had extensive wood panelling carried out to the upstairs living areas which allegedly hid a lot of rot. They tried to sell the club but surveys always brought to light the concealment and sales fell through. I understand the insurance company had strong suspicions regarding the nature of the fire so refused to pay, which is why the gap remains.
Alan Esdaile… was the Vox factory in the Philips building on Ponswood?
Will Cornell… very cool Mason’s shares that address, Alan! Did they make the electric dulcimers for Brian Jones there too?
Alan Esdaile… We are over the road from what was the Philips building, Will. They used to be one of the big employers of the town, sadly no longer here. Now split into lots of small businesses.
Peter Gladwish… Brian Jones’ Appalachian Dulcimer was made for him by JMI (who owned Vox) at their Dartford factory by a woodworker named Tony Diamond, Will Cornell. Hastings produced mainly amps, speakers.
Will Cornell… I’m always overwhelmed at what all Vox did…even after reading the “Rolling Stones Gear” (and the “Beatles Gear”) books! And I think they made two or three for him! One of them maybe was stolen. Sad that more business addresses don’t get “Official Historical Markers”….but then some have squandered their legacy. Charley’s Guitars here in Dallas is a pale imitation of it’s former glory supplying custom guitars for Stevie Ray Vaughn etc. It now does repairs, has maybe a handfull of overpriced vintage guitars hanging on the wall for sale…and more pictures on the wall of SRV (and the former ownership/staff) than merch for sale.
Peter Gladwish… Vox also made the Bill Wyman bass, both at Dartford and in Italy, at Eko guitars.
supplied by Peter Gladwish
Colin Fox… Also Brian Jones Vox Teardrop
supplied by Colin Fox
The Hastings Vox Wah Wah pedal.
