Then the second important patents were those bt Garrett J. Couchois, in 1899, giving to our instrument the bases of the mordern design.
For a long time, I thought the Humanatone was the first nose flute to be commercialized. The Humanatone Introducing Novelty Company was founded in 1904, the brand Humanatone was registered on 1st July. But James J. Stivers added the precision "This trade-mark has been continuously used in my business since July 6th, 1903" [see details here].
But I recently found a 1903 music catalog with an ad for a Magic Flute, and had to retrace a new Humanatone & clones chronology.
I have been continuing my researches, and just found an interesting new information.
The Cincinnati Wholesale Jewelers and Manufacturers Association was a corporative structure depending of the Chamber of Commerce. Apparently, the members were used to have an annual outing in June, having some fun, gorgeous lunch, baseball game, amateur theater show, then a nap. Let's say a Summer orgy in the countryside.
In 1922, the 10th of June, the association went to the White Villa — residence of the treasurer Edgar Noterman — in Covington, Kentucky. After some refreshments, the fellowship had « a wonderful feast of broilers », and then, probably totally drunk, the jewelers began a baseball they never finished (« Oh yes, the game only lasted five innings, which was about as much as the ability of the players and the patience of the audience could stand »). Two teams were formed, the Irish Greens and the Dutch Blues, which one was captained by Art Jacobs, of the D. Jacobs Sons Co.
After the game, the joyful fellows went on stage. The Secretary, Mr. Remellin, « who is a violin artist of no mean quality, gave a heart-breaking interpretation of "Love's Old Sweet Song." Everybody was crying — for silence. »
And then « Art Jacobs, also a musical wonder, performed marvels (of discord) on a "Humanatone", which he purchased at the Chicago World's Fair in 1892. »
[from : All Baseball and Golf Records Smashed by Members of Association Who Spent Enjoyable Day at White Villa, The Jewelers' circular Co., 1922, Volume 84, Numéro 2, P.75. Full article downloadable here]
So, were there Humanatones sold at Chicago's World's Fair in 1892 ???
The first Chicago World's Fair — there was another one in 1933 – opened its door, in fact, in 1893. More : « When the gates opened on May 1, 1893, all but a few minor attractions were ready to accomodate the thousands of eager first-day visitors » [in The World's Columbian Exposition: The Chicago World's Fair of 1893, by Norman Bolotin and Christine Laing, 1992]. Dedication ceremonies were held on October 21, 1892, but it is unlikely that Art Jacobs bought his instrument in 1892...
But since the Chicago's Fair was also called "The Columbian Exposition" because it was held to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492, it is probable that 29 years after the Fair, Mr. Jacobs made the confusion (or was it the author of the article?).
The main interrogation is about the name Humanatone. James J. Stivers, as we stated before, wrote that the brand had been used since july 1903. Art Jacobs didn't buy a Humanatone, but a nose flute. Why did the journalist write « Humanatone ». I am prone to think it was a language abuse. In 1922, when the Jeweler's Circular text was written, the metal Humanatone was at the top of its fame. It was the most commun nose flute on the market, and I believe it was beginning to become a common noun. Exactly as we, frenchies, are used to say "a frigidaire" instead of "a refrigerator", or American people would say "a colt" instead of "a handgun", using a famous brand instead of the generic noun. Yet, it is still the case nowadays : many (american) people say "Humanatone" instead of "nose flute". [EDIT : Rectification on that point, see this post]
On thing still stays a strange coincidence : the author of the article wrote « ... Art Jacobs, also a musical wonder... ». And the first Humanatone was stamped with that same appellation :
So, what nose flute did Art Jacobs buy at Chicago's Fair in 1893 ? I sincerely have no clue of the answer. It might have been a Magic Flute, as it existed before the Humanatone (check my chronology)...
Or was it another unknown (by me) instrument?
The important thing is to record there was a nose flute available in 1893, and it was probably directly issued from the Carter's patent, filed at the end of 1891 and registered mid-1892. Just the time to launch a production... Did Jacobs buy a Nasalette ?
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About metal Humanatones, check :
- Humanatone - part I : the metallic era
- New Humanatone ads
- The Two metal Humanatones
- Another metal Humanatone
- Humanatone boxes
- Another Humanatone box
- Humanatone: A very early user manual
- The Magic (Nose) Flute: only questions... .
- A Humanatone and clones chronology
- A Humanatone in 1892 ?
- Humanatone: Early promotional demos
- Another Humanatone archive
- Huma... something
- Rectification: Humanatone appearance date
- Great paper from 1903
- Nose Flute Pioneers: The Stivers - Part I
- Nose Flute Pioneers: The Stivers - Part II
- Nose Flute Pioneers: The Stivers - Part III
- Nose Flute Pioneers: The Stivers - Part IV
- Nose Flute Pioneers: The Stivers - Part V
- A Humanatone as a scientific tool
- Two other Humanatone Ads
And on later Humanatones :
- Humanatone - Part II : the Gretsch plastic era
- Humanatone - Part III : the Gretsch metal era
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The Chicago World Fair is highly interesting in many ways. To me it is of particular interest since my hero Frank Lloyd Wright attended it as a young architect. This "Columbian Exposition" directly influenced his style and direction through the Mayan and Japanese pavillions. Frank Lloyd Wright would start his own practice in the very same year.
ReplyDeleteCould he have come across the Humanatone, would he have tried it and possibly even have bought one? Frank Lloyd Wright was very much into music and had an amazing eye for detail. I wonder if his home studio has one in a cabinet somewhere.
The fair was visited by nearly 26 million people. I wonder how many heard the Humanatone being played or demonstrated and took one home.
I strongly feel that the Humanatone would have been an easy purchase as an impulse buy...
I wonder if the many musicians who performed at the fair considered it or gave it a try, as the nose flute can be played instantly! Amongst these musicians were Scott Joplin, Henry Thomas and WC Handy, giants of early jazz and blues, who all played several instruments including either brass or woodwind instruments. They should have been quite capable of mastering it.