The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-01
1879 38 YEARS --1Q16
Az Then and Now AOAO

In moving into this new place it SEEM
ed that the quarters would be large
enough for good many years to come
already the House of Jenkins had grown
to be one of the largest piano houses in
the country.
The name and fame of the House
spread and very soon its rooms were ex-
tended the second and third floors
running through to Grand Avenue ans
occupying two floors. 100 feet frontage
each. This addition gave the concern
1000 square feet additional space
Hardly had the esta bIishment settled
down when the growing volume of busi-
ness still demanded more space. lot
was purchased on Sixteenth Street, near
Baltimore Avenue, and 4-story ware
house was built upon it, all of which was
used by the Jenkins business. With an
eye to the steady and continually expand
ing business, four years ago 6-st0ry
fireproof building erected at 1917
and 1919 Walnut Street. and all of this
building, excepting the first floor and
basement, is used for storage, repairing
and manufacturing
This new building is constructed in the
most durable manner. the foundation and
walls being planned to carry six or eight
additional floors when required
Mr.. ]. W. Jenkins. the president of the
company. made a startling departure
many years ago in inaugurating plan of
safety, economy, square dealing and in
surance to- the customers The plan
means one price, no commissions. openly
secretly, in selling pianos. and it means
that each piano handled by the HOUSE OF
Jenkins is sold at the lowest price that
pianos can be obtained for anywhere in
the United States '-s'
This startling and original plan of one
price, no admissions. and saving to the
buyer while being bitterly fought by the
commission paying piano houses and GER
tain musicians and commission taking
friends, might be expected, but it won
the confidence of the people, not only IN
Kansas City. but in the adjacent territory
Customers came to Kansas City to get
square deal
In order to accommodate the people
in neighborfng cities a store was opened
in St Joseph, Mo; this store is six stories
and basement 50x120. 1t is located at
715-717 Felix Street and is owned by the
]. W. Jenkins Sons Music Company.
The plan of a branch house to bring
Jenkins line of pianos aud the splendid
service closer to the outlying districts
proved a success and another store was
opened in Oklahoma City
The business there f1ourished and soon
property was purchased and beautiful
3-story building at 223 West Main street
erected by the house.
And so in rapid succession branches
were started in Hutchinson. Kan. Joplin,
Mo, Independence. Kan, Fort Smith,
Ark. Muskogee, Ok. Salina, Kan. Kan
sas City, Kan. BartlesviIIe. Ok. Tulsa,
Ok. Topeka, Kan. AtchiSon, Kan. The
properties occupied by the stores in In.
dependence and Salina. Kan. are also
owned by the Jenkins Company.
At this writing the Jenkins Company is
building at Joplin what will be one of the
finest music stores in the state of Mis-
souri,. and in excavating for deep base
ment considerable body of zinc ore was
discovered It has been suggested to Mr..
Jenkins that he continue the freight e1e-
vator shaft down into the earth and re-
claim the ore under the property.
Here. then in the year 1915, thirty
eight years after the founding of the
House of Jenkins. the event is being eel
ebrated by a stupendous sale in which
fourteen stores operated by the J. W.
Jenkins Sons Music Company are Coop
Grating. in which sale more makes of
good pianos and a larger stock of must
cal merchandise are shown than have
ever been offered by any one music house
in the country.
The House of ]. W. Jenkins Sons Mu-
sic Company is recognized for its finan-
cial strength. its good service. its fair
dealing and its splendid line of depend
able pianos and prices to suit the purse
and the preference of everyone
It is the policy of the House of Jen-
kins never to use Customers accounts
for collateral at the bank The house
is abundantly able to buy and own the
pianos it sells its customers
The Jenkins Plan. the thfrty-eieht
years past record and the active interest
of the Jenkins men who own the business
are all forces that secure the perpetuity
of the business
The Jenkins Plan is the boss and
everyone from the officers to. the office
boy knows the Jenkins Plan and lives Up
to it.
That policy has met the approval of
the fair minded public. and the success of
the House of Jenkins is but the natural
result OF the unwavering carrying out OF
that policy. TX