Jimmy Page started using a Vox Deluxe Echo tape delay around April 1969 and continued using it until the end of the 1970 US Tour when he replaced it with a Maestro Echoplex EP-2.
Jimmy used the “Long Tom” version of the Echo Deluxe, popularized by Hank Marvin of the “Shadows”. The unit worked basically by recording the original signal on a tape and playing it back with a slight delay, with the option of increasing or reducing the volume and the delay time with the knobs seen at the front of the unit.
Great article, he was actually using this long tom prior to April 1969 even, and he used it in conjunction with the Maestro Echoplex at the beginning of 1970. You’ll notice he will have the Long Tom and then EP-2 next to it up until at least 1970 Summer tour. Sometimes he has Two EP-2s and the Long Tom as well. One thing people often overlook is that he was using the Long Tom not just for the Echo, but the Gain stage at the input of the device, which is why he was using it WITH the EP-2s for a period of time as well. Additionally, it also serves as a summing or routing device for the guitar and the theremin to all come out of one(or two daisy chained) amplifier. When the addition of a third guitar head pops up, that head is dedicated to only the theremin. I can’t remember for sure but I believe this to be around the end of 1970? In the middle of 1970 you’ll see two WEM cabinets pop up on his side of the stage, but through photos from behind you can see there are no heads powering these cabinets and nothing plugged into them, they are just there to support the amp heads and echo units. Pretty neat.