Horn-u-Copia's Display of Makers

The original company founded 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 Cos 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 catalog list York & Sons full line. Showing the Monarch and the Professional Cornets. Also lists a Valve Trombone. The 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. At least some of his offerings appear to be Pan American stencils.

• 1878 music store founded by John Woodward Jenkins (1827- 1890, top photo) at #611 Main Street, Kansas City, MO
• 1880 census says he deals in pianos and music
• 1880s son John Wesley Jenkins (1864-1932) joins him and the name changes to JW Jenkins & Son Music Co.
• 1890 founder John dies and the business is changed to JW Jenkins’ Sons Music Co. with John Jr., Clifford W. Jenkins (1869-after 1930), and Frederick Butler Jenkins (1870- 1939)
• 1902 store moves to #1013-1015 Walnut St.

• 1903 selling brass from York & Sons, Gomat & Co., August Heinem, & Courtois
• 1910 Clifford is sec/tres of company
• 1911 new store at #1217-1223 Walnut Street
• 1917 John W. Jenkins III (1894-1958, son of Clifford) at store
• 1920 John Wesley Jenkins is president
• 1931 now named the Jenkins Music Co.
• 1932 store enlarged with 8 story addition
• 1930s selling Pan-American & Cavalier brass by Conn
• 1940 John W. Jenkins III is vice-president
• 1950s maximum expansion to 14 stores in 5 states with 700 employees
• 1958 Frederick Bliss Jenkins (1898-1960, son of Fred) sells his interest in the business to family members; he served as vice-president
• 1971 filed for bankruptcy
• 1973 sold to Rich Music Co.

Brass instruments include:
August Heinem (1890s to early 1900s, Austrian),
Harwood (early 1900s to1930s, Austrian, some B&F),
Jenkins Special (1920s & 30s, US made stencil poss. Conn),
American Capital (US or import),
New Jenkins (Czech. made, 1918-1938), and
Karl Schubert (Czech.made, 1918-1938)

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