Jones and Crossland was a very popular musical instuments shop in the mid to late 1960’s.
It was situated on Smallbrook Queensway roughly where Richer Sounds are now.
A visit there on a Saturday afternoon would often result in seeing people like Roy Wood, and other well known local musicians.
Park musical equipment was stocked there and it was said by many people at the time that Cleartone Musical Instruments, who made Park, were owned by the same people as the shop.
Apart from the brand name on the front the 100 watt and 50 watt Park valve amps, and the 4/12 Park speaker cabinets were almost inistinguishable from Marshall equipment, and it was rumoured that Park had been born out a need to fill a gap left by a contract to manufacture Marshall equipment, which had come to an end.
Roumour also suggested that Park was basically Marshall circuitry with minor changes to avoid patent infringement.
It is certainly true that on inspection of the innards the only obvious difference without reference to a parts list, was that Park used pairs of the large KT66 valves in push-pull manner (one pair in the 50 watt amp and two pairs in the 100 watt amp), whilst the Marshall equipment of the time used the more compact KT88 valves in the same manner.
The maiden name of the wife of Jim Marshall’s friend Johnny Jones wife was said to be Park, so there is probably some truth in those roumours.
There was also a range of Park Guitars.
Park was eventually aquired by Marshall. The Jones and Crossland shop closed some years ago.
There Are Currently 15 Comments for this Post
The Late Keith Tonks was the founder of Claertone with Jim Marshall at J&C
Do you happen to know when Keith Tonks died? The last I heard he was living in Bewdley.
Is that THE David Gregory – International musician? Hope all is well Grog!!! and hi from Dubai!!
Ian
My late husband Philip Russell worked alongside Johnny Jones. Philip was a great trumpet player i would love to hear from anyone who remembers Philip.
Hello Mrs Russell, I did not know Phillip, but I do have a collection of photographs from the Jones & Crossland days when Phillip & Johnny Jones worked together. I am happy to scan some of these & email them to you?
Best wishes
David Gregory
David, would you be willing for them to be posted on here? I’ve just put on old picture of Woodroofe’s on our sister page on Facebook and there has been so many people commenting on it I’m sure people would love to see photo’s of Jones and Crossland.
I’ve just found the Birmingham Music Archive while researching the history of Park Amplification.
Re the rumours surrounding the Park brand, the WIkipedia entry on Marshall Amplification neatly sums up the (possibly deliberate?) confusion at the time, given the sole, 15-year Marshall distribution rights acquired by Rose-Morris in 1965.
It seems that Jim Marshall and Johnny Jones were friends and Jones & Crossland were already Marshall distributors. Park soon became very popular, especially with Birmingham bands. The Marshall quality and sound, combined with prices lower than those that Rose-Morris was asking for the Marshall-branded products was an attractive combination.
Which explains why almost every Birmingham area band I saw in the late 60s-70s used at least some Park gear.
Regards,
Jim
I thought J n C was in Hinkley street by Alex’s originally ?
Yes you are right,Jone & Crossland did start in Hinkley Street,next to back entrance to chinese restaraunt,(House of Liange Nam) & down from Alex,s Pie Stand,Brought my 1st two Guitars,(Hofner Club 40 & Hofner Committe from Jonny Jones always called him Mr Jones I am now 77 yrs old now but got a good memory of those days.
Park were owned by Marshall not Johhny Jones. The Marshall equipment was at that time distributed by Rose Morris. It restricted Jim Marshall to stocking shops given the Marshall dealerships by Rose Morris so Jims friend Johhny Jones and Jim formed Cleartone musical instruments to sell Marshall amps under the Park logo They were virtually the same amps as Marshall with a few differences ,PARK was Johnny Jones’s wife’s maiden name. KT88 valves are the same size as KT66, Marshall had started using EL34’S as KT66/KT88’s were becoming more expensive and scarce.
Got a CMI tele deluxe.
It’s probably mij,
and reminds me a lot of a Tokai I played.
Anybody know where in Japan they made them, which factory?
Thanks,
I am Chris Dunn, ex bass-player from 70’s Birmingham band, City Boy. (5 albums produced by Mutt Lange) I thought some people may be interested to know that I started my working career at Jones & Crossland at the age of 18 making the tea, sweeping the floors and demonstrating classical guitars for the substantial wage of 12 pounds a week! A year later I was managing the guitar and drums department but eventually had to leave to commit more time to the band.
Hi Chris, I well remember city Boy. You also Helped out a band I was in (Q Band), when we did a demo recording at Warwick University.
I played in a couple of bands in brum, before coming to Toronto Canada .
I still do music in my Home Studio.
I also went to Jones and Crossland , Drum city etc.
I hope you are still Playing Music.
Joe.
I aqquired a 100 watt cmi pa valve amplifier about 25 years ago but its a bit middly ie not enough treble and bass .I was hoping to use it for guitar or vocals but it needs a bit of electronic work on the pre amp/or pots.Where is the best place to take it in brum for this work?
My pa amp is working great now