c1964 WEM Clubman, courtesy of Jerry Blakemore, Essex,
England
The Clubman was probably the second Watkins amp to be produced circa 1956, a
less powerful version of the Westminster in a near-identical cabinet with no tremolo and a single EL84 giving it a power rating of 6W. Very early versions
- one is shown below - were in a plain grey covering, followed by maroon & cream and then
turquoise & cream
versions. 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. In the
late 60s it reverted to being a plain-looking solid-state model with tremolo During the early 1970's, it 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.
c1956 WATKINS CLUBMAN This is apparently one of the first from 1956 or even possibly 1955, in an early styling. Price unknown but likely around 15
gns.
c1956 WATKINS CLUBMAN A very similar
example to the the one above but with cream covering and a dark control panel. This particular amp is in superb condition for its age.
c1960 WATKINS CLUBMAN The most
commonly found two-tone model in turquoise & cream made in the late 50s
and early 60s.
c1963 WATKINS CLUBMAN Still turquoise
and cream, but fitted with small black control knobs.
c1964 WEM CLUBMAN The more familiar two-tone styling which Watkins used from c1957 to c1964. The Wem badge and darker olive-green covering identify this one as a late model, just before the transformation into Wem. Price 15 gns in the early 60s.
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. This model is very rare and
may have only been produced for a couple of years. Price unknown.
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.
Price in the early 70s: £22.00.
c1973 WEM CLUBMAN Mk IX Around 1972 the Clubman got it's valves back and a smart new livery, which it retained until the late 70s. Price £45.00 in the mid-70s.
Late 1970's WEM CLUBMAN A cosmetic make-over which must have been considered an improvement at the time. Price
£67.00 in 1978
