noseflute.org: 10/14/12

Oct 20, 2012

Nose Flute Pioneers: The Stivers - Part V

In 1925, at the age of 44 and still bachelor, James J. finally left his parents' home, and resides at 441 W56th. His father George W. (and Frances) move to Broadway Central Hotel. And the shop is installed on Broadway, #407. It's a quite elegant store, in a strategic place.

Yes, 1925 was an important years for the Stivers, but also for another reason. Indeed, in July, George Washington Stivers, the founder of G.W. Stivers & Co, passed away at the age of 71.

Is Frances, George W. I's wife still alive? I don't know. What did her children Ellen (51 in 1925), Frances II (45), May (39), Kathryn (25) become? I don't know. Nor for May, George II's daughter (?) (she's 28).

George Walter is still in jail, either Sing Sing or already in Dannemora.

After their father's death, the two brothers continued to develop the Humanatone Market. The trade-Mark "Humanatone", [No 208,915], filed May 13, is renewed Feb. 9, 1926, with a new and condensed typo. No more lion.

It is probably from that year that the "new" box was issued, using the new typo and with its user manual:

It seems that James Stivers decided then to launch a serious attack on the West Coast. Indeed, in 1930, George W. II is still in New York, having in charge the Broadway store (he bought a house to 8558 Fleet St.)...

... but James J. has moved to California. He lives in Los Angeles (521 San Julian st.) and is "proprietor" of a "Novelty store". Where was it located?

James J.'s home, in San Julian st.:

What happened then? We know that the Humanatone nose flute fame went growing and growing, despite its competitors threat. Was the Magic Nose Flute appearing in any novelties and toys catalog a re-branded Humanatone? I'm incline to think so, the "Humanatone" brand reserved to music instruments lists, and the Magic Nose Flute in toys ones. I already discussed that matter, with pieces of evidence, in this post.

Popular Mechanics, Nov. 1928. During this Humanatone "golden age", if a competitor had used the name "Humanatone" in a novelty catalog, there would have been, at least, a complaint. But this ad was identically republished in the Oct. 1929 and Nov. 1930 issues (many other evidences here)

The well-known plastic Humanatone was launched by Gretsch in 1942-43, and the brand Humanatone was certainly bought from the Stivers in 1942 (however, the renewal of the brand by Gretsch happened only on the legal renewal date (after 20 years), on Feb. 9, 1946).

What happened exactly?

« After his father retired in 1942, Fred Jr. managed the company briefly then left the company to serve with distinction as a commander in the Navy during World War II. He returned to the family business after the war and became president in 1948 when his brother Bill died at the age of 41. » [source]

So, it is very likely that Fred Jr., very cleverly:
- Bought the June 1941 Ernest W. Davis nose flute patent
- Associated it with the most famous brand, Humanatone, bought from the Stivers.

But that's another story...

Fred Gretsch Jr.:

After the Stivers sold the brand to the Fred Gretsch mfg Co., it seems they continued to produce their metallic nose flutes. Indeed, the Magic Nose Flute was still available in the novelties catalogs, and this, at least until 1950.

Here, in the Johnson Smith catalog, 1950:

In 1950, George W. II was 74, James J., 69, and it is probable they retired soon. The brand Humanatone began to live a new life of fame, and the last metallic flutes disappeared. The Davis' plastic Gretsch and, in 1955 the Weidlich & Lohse Swan, replaced them.

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Here the genealogy of the Stivers family as I was able to trace it, showing the "George(s) W. Stivers" strain"

Oct 18, 2012

Nose Flute Pioneers: The Stivers - Part IV

And more, the witness identifying George for the passport is a certain Eugene Bell, a family friend, having "racing" for principal activity and declaring to know G.W. for having been « associated with him in past 15 years racing ». George has been practicing racing for that time, i.e. since 1904!

OK. But what races? Bicycle, horse or roller-skate? I don't know, but...
But George applies for his passport November 6, and specifies he intends to come back to the USA before 6 months, that is before the 6th of May. He does not specify when he will leave (he may have applied long in advance for his passport).

In Marianao, Havana, there is one racetrack (the only one), quite new (1915), called Oriental Park. Wikipedia precises: « In its heyday, American owners brought their horses to race at Oriental Park Racetrack during the winter months, and future Hall of Fame jockeys Laverne Fator rode there in 1918, as did Alfred Robertson in the mid 1920s and the Cuban-born Avelino Gomez. »

So, did George practice horse racing? I don't know. There was also a car race in April 1920 at Oriental Park. And if you look well at the picture below, you'll discern 2 people in the car. Did George and Eugene pilot cars? I *feel* that cars fit better with the Stivers than horses, but it is just a feeling, an intuition, no a fact.

The fact is that, on an ulterior passport form (1922), George gives a bit more details, but I am not able to read what is written after the word "racing" (If someone of you is able to...). It might be the answer.

Last but not least, the 1919 passport application sheet and the 1922 one are both agremented with a picture of George W. II Stivers! We finally are able to "put a face on a name", in this "pioneers series" !!

The 1922 passport application sheet is very interesting, and this, in several ways. George's occupation is still "racing" but he applies for "Commercial" reasons. He intends to visit France and British Isles. This time, G.W. asks for a passport the first of May in order to embark on the Homeric on... 6th of May. He should be back after 2 months. In fact, George will cross the sea aboard the Mauretania, and reach Southampton on 22nd of May.

We can see on the passengers list that George was hosted in Cecil Hotel, London. The Cecil Hotel was and huge and very luxuous hotel.

So, how can we be sure that the "commercial" Stivers was in London, Ireland and France for "Humanatone reasons"? Easy! Here is a warrant letter from the G. W. Stivers & Co., allowing George to "buy any goods with his own approval". Well, I guess George was there mostly... to sell!

The letter heading shows 3 products that probably were ground-breaking sellers for the company.
In the middle: the Lucky Penny Bank, which was a tin bank shaped like a large and thick coin. The one below dates from 1975, but certainly uses the same concept:

The other items are instruments. For sure, The well-known Humanatone, but also the « Wonderful instrument Flutophone »

What was the Flutophone? It was another "variable tonality whistle". But the instrument was not blown by the nose, but by the mouth. So, the mouth was used at the same time to produce the flow and the note, by using the tongue as a separator of the mouth cavity. In fact, the Flutophone is an exact "shepherd's whistle", to which a rectangular horn was added.

An ad published in Secret Service, Sep. 1, 1911.

And a modern shepherd's whistle:

The Flutophone was invented by John A. Bartholomew, citizen of New York, in 1903. John Bartholomew was french, born from a german father and a belgian mother, in 1868. In fact, in the 1920 census, his father appears to be french, and the explanation is that at the moment of the 1900 census, the north-east part of France where he was born was german, since 1870 war and until 1918. Yes, from my region!). John imigrated in the USA in 1870, maybe because of the war. In 1903, Bartholomew was ventriloquist and widowed (later, he'll re-marry and become a comb maker!).

Well, the Stivers bought the Flutophone patent [US733,122] to exploit it, and become owners and manufacturers of the instrument. When was it? Certainly rather early, and maybe when James J. turned the Stivers' shop into a music instruments one.

1922 was already late for George W. II Stivers to visit Europe. Maybe did he do it earlier too. Anyway, in the early 1920s, the Humanaphone appears in the Keith Prowse catalog, London, then in the Jedson list. The fact is that the Humanaphone is very similar to the Humanatone... Was it a copy, or did George sell a licence to a british manufacturer, who also decided to produce a celluloid line?

In fact, the two instruments are rigorously the same ones! Generally, to avoid problems with copies, the manufacturers prefer to change some small details. Here, everything is the same, stampings excepted: even the shape of the flaps that hold the rivets...

Oct 17, 2012

Nose Flute Pioneers: The Stivers - Part III

With the "Nose Flute Pioneers" series, Noseflute.org enters a little cycle of research. I hope it won't be too arid for a blog, but I really think that the facts I found have to be published. The sources : Google patents, US Census and an access to newspaper archives. But also, depending on the topic, correspondence by e-mail with descendants. Let's better say : internet searching tools available for a Frenchie not able to access US real paper archives.

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Nose Flute Pioneers: The Stivers - Part III

The Stivers: Expansion and Shame

[sequel of Part I and Part II]

The spreading and growing success of the Humanatone in 1908 gave ideas and longings to competitors, particularly in Europe, and there was almost a new patent filed each year:
A.V. Chevers in 1909 with his musical pipe possibly blown by the nose and A.W. proctor in 1910, both in the US. But then F. Vandervaeren in Belgium in 1912, J. Goldstein in Germany in 1913, Chevers again in 1916, Klein in 1921, the british Humanaphone and a french model in the 1920s, Grierson in 1923, new german models... plus all the ones I still don't know or am not able to date.

But, back in 1909, Humanatone is not only the leader, but the only manufacturer. The Humanatone Introducing Novelty Co. still uses the successful George I's marketing methods: diffuse the new product anywhere it is possible, notably fairs and expositions.

From June to mid-October 1909, a big event happens in Seattle: The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (AYPE). Humanatone has to be there!
« The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition (AYPE) took place in Seattle from June 1 to October 16, 1909. It was staged to commemorate the Yukon Gold Rush of 1897 and to demonstrate the importance of Seattle as gateway for commerce and trade with Alaska, the Yukon and the nations across the Pacific Ocean. By the time it closed on October 16, 1909 the AYPE had attracted about three million visitors. » (source)

Besides the central buildings — Fine arts, Industry, Farming, etc. — is the entertainment area. It is called the Pay Streak, and proposes many attractions, a little Cairo, an asian district, the Igorrotes village, a Baby Incubator house, plus a bunch of peanut sellers, theaters, merry-go-rounds, saloons and tea rooms, musicians, performers, and even Prince Albert, the talking horse!

The crowd is huge and the little shops are numerous.

Where was the Stivers' booth? I checked all the pictures available and found no trace of a Humanatone... But the company was there. The Secretary's Report details all the revenues produced by the Pay Streak activities, and we can see that the G.W. Stivers & Co. generated a $800 turnover, on which the AYPE took 25% as commission.

$800 are not ridiculous, relatively to other booths revenues, but it cannot compare at all to the sales on Dewey's day... James Stivers didn't sell only Humanatones. There surely were also other "novelties" on his market stall. But even considering that only nose flute were sold, and knowing that the Humanatone was probably sold for ¢25 (like in the 1908 Jenkins catalog), this gross revenue represents only 3,200 instruments. In the case the Stivers' booth was opened during the 4 months and 1/2 of the fair, it would mean that Humanatone sold only 23 nose flutes a day at AYPE.

However, the Humanatone success is undeniably growing.

On the 1910, James Joseph is recorded, as a salesman and a democrat, on San Francisco voter list! Is he missioned in California to spread the Humanatone coverage? Probably. He lives 34 Turk st., which is an hotel.

In 1911, the shop moves from 15 Ann st. to... 35 Ann st, and the annex from 108 Nassau to... 104 Nassau.
The nose flute is used by more and more comedians and music hall performers, and is not presented as a "novelty" in the newspapers. Here, a duet playing in show organised by Anti-tuberculosis League in 1913.

The shop moves again in 1916, from 35 Ann st. to... 25-29 Ann. And the annex to 105-107 Nassau which is... the same building.

And we learn that the family has moved from 558 E162 st. to 225 W105 st. on James' WWI registration card in 1918:

And here is the answer regarding George III. On his 1918 army registration card, it is written that the "person to call in case of..." is Mrs. Kate (Stivers), domiciliated "Netel Arms" (appts?) in Far Rockaway, NY. And George II and Kate Stivers lives in Far Rockaway. So, Walter is with no doubt member of "our" Stivers family.

The fact is that, 2 years later, George Walter is pensioner of... the Sing sing prison.

What crime Walter perpetrated? I don't know. How long did he stay in jail? I don't know. But in 1930, Walter will still (or again?) rot in jail. But this time in Dannemora, the Clinton state prison for "criminal insane". And will still be incarcerated in Dannemora in 1940... So, I suppose the crime was terrible. A murder under insanity influence?

Sing Sing in 1920s:

Dannemora in the 1930s: