The Vox Grenadier X PA column was the US version of the JMI Vox
Vox L.S.40.
Thomas Organ struck a deal with Jennings Musical Instruments in the summer of 1964 to become the exclusive US distributor of Vox. Thomas Organ set up a network of US dealerships to sell this imported Vox equipment.
Within a year of the original distribution agreement, Thomas Organ renegotiated the US distribution agreement with JMI. Thomas objected to the high costs of importation and supply line shortages from JMI. The new agreement allowed Thomas to pay JMI a licensing fee and produce Vox gear in their own US manufacturing facilities. Thomas Otgan would no longer import Vox gear from the UK.
Thomas Organ did more than trim their importation costs when they started manufacturing Vox gear in America in 1965. They often used cheaper materials. The Grenadier X is a good example. The British equivalent Vox L.S.40 was constructed from multi laminate baltic birch plywood. The Grenadier X was made of inexpensive 3/4" particle board. The prices Thomas Organ charged for the US made gear remained unchanged.
The Grenadier X and the L.S.40 were both equipped with four 4 ohm, 10 watt British Celestion 7722 speakers. Later production of the Grenadier X dropped the Celestion 7722 speaker in favor of a less expensive 10" "gold" frame speaker from the Oxford Speaker Company of Chicago IL.
At a paltry RMS power rating of 40 watts per column, the Grenadier X was designed for use with voices only.
The cabinet for the Grenadier X was designed to be no larger than necessary. A chrome plated tubular "kick back" swivel stand was included to allow the Grenadier X to be directed toward the audience for better sound dispersion. The stand also provided the necessary stability to prevent the narrow, 7" deep enclosure from tipping over.
A three pin male XLR jack was provided for connection of the speaker to the power amplifier. A recessed slide switch, mounted directly above the speaker jack, allowed for impedance selection of 4 or 16 ohms. A 1/4" jack, mounted near the top of the back, allowed the Vox V826 accessory high frequency horn to be connected to the Grenadier X.
The 1965 US Vox price list indicated that the retail price for a V1091 Grenadier X PA column was $259.90. Adjusted for inflation, a pair of Grenadier X would retail today for about about $3600.
