Expert: Kenton Scott - 6/17/2009

Question
about 23 years ago i found this very old looking horn that i found it milner north dakota. it has a very nice engravement on there that says "genuine aug. heimen superrior quality j.w. jenkins lons music co lole agents. kansas city mo"  I found it on a old train. my mom is cleaning out her basement and was wanting some more information on it.  Ever here of it?  thanks

Answer
Aug. Heimen was a trade name used by GW Jenkins of Kansas City.  

JW Jekins was located in Kansas City, MO, with the original company founded as J.W.Jenkins Co., and succeeded by J.W. Jenkins Sons. (John Woodward Jenkins died in 1890) The company was an all-around retailer of anything musical including violins, and novelty instruments, such as the Frisco slide whistle.

1903 J. W. Jenkins' Sons Music Co's Complete Catalogue of Band Instruments shows a photo of their store at 1013 and 1015 Walnut St. Kansas City, Mo. The window display shows Steinway Pianos and Vose Pianos. The catalogue list York & Sons full line. Showing the Monarch and the Professional Cornets. Also lists a Valve Trombone. Catalogue also lists Gomat & co, August Henem, Courtois and The Leeder Mouthpieces. They state that they are makeing the Leeder now. There is also a photo of their "factory" it shows men polishing up guitars and other stringed instruments.

In the 20's and 30's they imported Bohland and Fuchs which the put under the Trade Name of Harwood. American Capital instruments were imports and were sold by Jenkins. According to a catalog from the 1930s, Jenkins sold a variety of brands, including Karl Schubert (tradename for Czechoslovakianimports), American Capital (also a tradename for imports), Bohland and Fuchs, Pan American (and Cavalier).