

Unicord used ACA to build amplifiers under the Univox brand name. The jewel light on these early Univox amps was a little red square. Later models featured a cabinet which was covered in charcoal-flecked tolex with white beading, with a grey grillcloth. The front-mounted controls included two or three inputs, volume, tone, tremolo with speed and intensity, plus footswitch jack. Early models were covered with black tolex, and the controls were in the back. The Univox logo was on the upper corner of the grille on a large piece of plastic. These American-made amps featured tubes and use high-end Jensen speakers. Multivox made the Premier brand name amplifiers, It is quite possible the name Univox was chosen to compete with an amplifier company located in Manhattan called Multivox. The company's location is important later in the story.ĪCA made Haynes guitar amplifiers and also made an early distortion device powered by batteries.Īfter the acquisition, Unicord began marketing tube amplifiers made in Westbury, by ACA, carrying the Univox brand name. Amplifier Corporation of America specialized in building reel to reel tape recorders, and amplifiers for record players. In 1964, The Unicord Company purchased the Amplifier Corporation of America (ACA), which was located in Westbury, New York, a northern suburb of New York City. Thankfully he did not use his own surname on guitars or amplifiers! There was another company called Unicord, which was owned by Sid Hack.

while other instruments were imported from Japan, Europe, and Latin America. Originally some of these instruments built in the U.S. The instruments distributed by Tempo-Merson in 1948 would have included brands with names such as Kay, Harmony, Kamico, Favilla, Tempo, Giannini, and Supro electric guitars. The Merson Tempo and other Merson instruments from this from this period were not widely distributed and distribution was confined to the Eastern United States. An ad for "The Merson Tempo" appeared in the December, 1948 issue. The first Tempo Merson guitars and amplifiers were advertised in Music Trades Magazine.

Little more is known of the origins of Merson, but we know that the company was already marketing Tempo Merson brand archtop electric guitars and amps in the late 40's. At some point in the company's history, Tempo-Merson was purchased by another man named Ernie Briefel. The Tempo-Merson Company was a distribution organization founded by a man named Bernie Mersky.
