Production of the Watkins Clubman commenced in around
late1959/early 1960. It replaced the lowest powered 6 watt option of the
Westminster range, an example of which is shown below. Initially it was provided
with a rather attractive art-deco cabinet with a cream/grey covering. No tremolo
was offered and a single EL84 gave it its 6 watt power rating. Its cabinet was changed
in 1963 to a smaller version of the Westminster 10watt with various
twin-tone coverings including maroon & cream. Eventually,
turquoise & cream
became dominant, until black cabinets became the fashion around about 1964. Early control panels were black, later ones silver. Elac speakers were usually fitted.
In 1963/64, when Watkins morphed into WEM, the Clubman Mk II acquired a new
livery - black cabinet, silver control panel and a decorative aluminium plate
covering the front of the amp. It was seemingly a smaller version of the Custom
15, itself a descendant of the Scout. Examples are rarely found today.
From c1966 it reverted to being a plain-looking solid-state model with tremolo.
During the early 1970's, the Clubman got it's valves back again and red/gold diamond pattern on black grill cloth, a very attractive and value-for-money little
practice amp. It remained in production with some cosmetic changes until the late 70s,
when the Clubman name was finally used for a very basic and short-lived 15 watt
solid state amp.
c1960 WATKINS CLUBMAN Very similar to the the one above but
now with a "Clubman" logo on the black control panel. This particular amp is in superb condition for its age.
c1963 WATKINS CLUBMAN Valve
powered to produce 6 watts through a 10" speaker. Two tone turquoise and
cream covering.
c1963 WATKINS CLUBMAN Still turquoise
and cream, but fitted with small black control knobs.
c1964 WEM CLUBMAN Still the familiar
two-tone styling which Watkins used from c1962 to c1964. The Wem badge and
darker turquoise covering point to this one as a late model, just before the transformation into Wem.
:WEM CLUBMAN Mk II (1965 to 1966):
Mid 1960's WEM CLUBMAN Mk II Around
1964, when the transformation into Wem styling became complete, the Clubman
acquired a new identity as a smaller version of the Custom
15 in a plain black cabinet with decorative aluminium facing and grill
covering the entire front. The control panel and presumably the circuitry
remained similar or identical to earlier models. Examples of this model
seems to be rare and
it may only have been produced for a couple of years.
WEM CLUBMAN SOLID STATE: (1966 to 1972)
Late 1960's WEM CLUBMAN SOLID STATE
The Clubman acquired this rather unprepossessing solid-state incarnation
from some time in the mid-late 60s until the early 70s, now in a black
cabinet. Output still quoted as 6 watts, but now through a single 8"
Speaker.
WEM CLUBMAN Mk IX (1973 to 1978)
c1973 WEM CLUBMAN Mk IX Around 1973
the Clubman got it's valves back and a smart new livery, which it retained
until the late 70s. Now rated at 5 watts output, rather strangely through a
12" speaker. this requiredthe same size cabinet as the contemporary
Westminster.
Late 1970's WEM CLUBMAN Later
versions of the Mk IX were fitted with a 10" speaker, which allowed a
reduction in cabinet size, together with a cosmetic make-over.
WEM CLUBMAN 15 (1979 TO 1980)
1979 WEM CLUBMAN 15 - CATALOGUE SCAN
A simple 15 watt solid state amplifier fitted with a single 10" speaker.
Volume, treble, and bass tone controls for the amp's two inputs and single
channel.
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