One of the main types of item I sell in my eBay store is antique and vintage typewriters. Not only do I sell them, I love to learn of their history, as they still have relevance to today. The device you’re reading this article on is the successor to these bygone machines and will also last for considerably less time. One of the delights of purchasing these items is the ‘ephemera’ – a rather fancy term for old paperwork – that often comes with them. They have a tendency to reveal the minutiae of life, people’s hopes and dreams, or carefree childhood ambitions. In the first installment, we look at ‘Shock Wave’ – some musically-minded teenagers from Wordsley, near Stourbridge.

Teenage Dreams Are Hard to Beat

“Shock Wave are a three piece group from Wordsley, near Stourbridge“, declares the handwritten proto-Wikipedia entry. “They were started in the summer of 1980 and like so many other groups started off with cardboard boxes and toy guitars, and pencils for drum sticks“.

“Jumpers for goalposts” flashbacks intensify.

We soon come across our protagonist.

“Our very first instrument” says Craig Bevan, the lead vocalist and guitarist, “was a 3 string toy guitar which belonged to my little brother; it’s amazing what you can get out of things like that“.

The bio entry goes on to list the full band:

• Craig Bevan, lead vocals and guitar
• Chris Aston, drums and vocals
• Andy Pilkington, bass guitar and keyboards

The band are 15-16 at the time of writing (c. 1982), so would be roughly 55 today.

Following their shaky beginnings, the group upgraded to “a Satterlite [sic] guitar and amp, a Casio keyboard and a set of toy drums“, which “sound as good as a proper kit“. A later addition suggests that they had since added a Hondo bass guitar, a Hondo II lead guitar and “some microphones“.

Side Note – Hondo made some fine instruments, in retrospect.

The Shock Wave Heard Around Wordsley

“A year ago, they released their first cassette/album, called ‘The Shock Tapes‘,” the promo continues.

“It sold one copy. ”

Ouch, tough crowd.

“Their latest C60 cassette called ‘Tryagen’ (geddit?) was announced in Sounds Cassette Pets and to date has sold around 30 copies “.

Then, in a rare admission for a musician, Craig confesses, “It is not brilliant, we know, but we think it’s worth the price. Just wait until our next release, it will stun the world! ”

Having been in several bands myself over the years, all of which immolated pre-gig stage, this feels like the kind of admission you want to make about most of them, but pride gets in the way; Look, we’re not good yet, but at least give us a chance.

The bio continues on down the page of lined A4, but there is a large cross through the next section.

“Shock Wave are determined to make it big and are improving so fast that by this time next year we are hoping to be doing local gigs in Birmingham and the local area. If there are any upcoming groups who are considering making copies of their music on cassette then Shock Wave are very willing to help.“

Drummer, Chris, says, “There are so many groups around coming out with good music all they need is a little push and they will soon find success, however small. ”

Shocking Musical Differences

As we continue, another section also has a large ‘X’ through it, and reads ‘Influences‘:

• Stiff Little Fingers
• T-Rex
• Splodge
• Gillan
• Meatloaf
• Angelwitch
• UK Subs
• Leyton Buzzards
• Iron Maiden

Mostly understandable to list as influences so far, but the final entry is Showaddywaddy. However, on the second of the hand-written pages, Showaddwaddy is included again in a revised list, but then is the only entry crossed out specifically this time and is instead replaced with ‘Motorhead’.

At the time of writing, the band is continuing to record its latest release, ‘Project Pineapple’ and this is set to be released around August (1982).

“It features some very professional songs and is easily the best stuff we’ve done, including our version of ‘C’mon Everybody’“, says bassist Andy. “We’re really knocked out by it.”

Home Recordings

The biography goes on to note that Shock Wave record on Saturday afternoons and have a somewhat novel approach to recording.

“What we do is record the vocals, bass and percussion on one tape, then play it. While this is going on, we play lead guitar, drums and keyboards and record on a separate stereo recorder. It’s a very simple idea and with practice, you can get close to studio standard.“

Even in 2021, I still do something similar for demoing an idea by recording on both my phone and tablet. Same concept, different era of technology.

In the era before easy digital musical distribution, the band has a similarly innovative method for mass-producing their music. The writer continues, “When we’ve got about 20 tracks, we arrange them and put them on to what we call a ‘master tape’. Then using another stereo cassette record copies. We have info sheets, cassette labels and inlay cards photo copied free for us.“

Drummer, Chris, is at pains to point out that Shock Wave are not in it for the money. “It’s possible to make profits out of cassettes, but we don’t believe in this and we give the listener what he pays for. Sometimes Shock Wave are running at a loss, but we don’t care as we enjoy it.”

But, in true vocalist style, Craig has strong words for others who might be in it for the money. “A lot of other cassette groups exploit the cheapness of cassettes and just stick out any rubbish. Cassettes announced in Sounds Cassette Pets which are free are guaranteed–“

The word ‘crap’ is crossed out and replaced with ‘rubbish’.

Craig continues, “Our music incorporates humour, pop, punk, meaningful lyrics and power.“

Shock Wave ‘Offered a Punk Festival in Wales’

Additional hand-written correspondence refers to the band being ‘offered a punk festival in Wales‘, and elucidates that the group’s second recording, ‘Tryagen’, has since gone on to sell 34 copies. This particular correspondence refers to a magazine from 31 July 1982, further dating the documentation. The back of this handwritten note is a promo for ‘A Country Festival’ (featuring the TSB Shire Horses) at Hagley Hall, on Saturday 13 June, 1982. The price of admission was just £1.50 for adults and 75p for children.

In addition to the hand-written bio, there is some briefer correspondence typed up on the typewriter.

Craig is Available…

But specifically, only after 4 pm. No such worries for Andrew, who is attributed as the author of this letter. By this point, the boys have ambitious plans to set up their own cassette magazine.

And with that, the correspondence ends, leaving so many unanswered questions.

• Were you one of the 34 people who had a copy of ‘Tryagen’ by Shock Wave?
• Did you ever attend a gig by Shock Wave?
• Most importantly, were you in Shock Wave?

If the answer to any of the above is ‘yes’, or you want to share memories of your own bands, write down in the comments, or email me using the form directly below. And if you want to read about a vintage typewriter, carry on down!

The Typewriter: A 1969 Consul 231.2

Ah yes, the reason for this article was partly to try and sell you a typewriter, wasn’t it? All of the information above was found in the inside of a Consul typewriter, which in itself has quite an interesting history. If you’re not interested in typewriters, this is the part where you can depart; thanks for making it this far!

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This stylish machine was manufactured in 1969, by CONSUL, of Czechoslovakia. It bears the serial number 9231234046.

Based in Brno, the firm began in 1932 under license from Remington, a legendary name in the world of typewriters. The name ZETA was adopted for standards, postwar, before CONSUL was introduced around 1953.

The machine comes with its original case, which has seen some wear to the handle and pitting to the metal, but the machine is in very good order and has had a new black ribbon fitted to it.

The ephemera is staying with me for now. If any of Shock Wave are ever found and want them back, then they are welcome to them.

Thanks for reading, if the typewriter is still available by the time you are, it can be found, along with plenty of others, in my eBay store.

Further Reading

The Hidden History of the Wolverhampton Synagogue

A False Start for Monmore Green

Sources Used

The various writings of Shock Wave, c. 1982

The Typewriter Database