Agate & Co

Comment: Ernest W Agate, born in 1880, was the son of William J Agate (died 1915). Both were musician/composers living in Stoke Newington and owners of the local piano/musical instrument/sheet music shop in Church Street N16.

Ernest died in 1943 and both the house and shop were purchased by Mr Loufer, who was a piano tuner and restorer. He continued to sell pianos, sheet music, every kind of musical instrument, plus accessories and records.

From 1943 I assisted him almost every Saturday before joining the RAF in 1947. When demobbed in 1949 I became his sales assistant then shop manager until 1955 when his son, Joe H Loufer sold the business prior to emigrating.

Joe, who was himself an excellent jazz pianist, like his good friend George Shearing, left for New South Wales, Australia to become the A&R manager for EMI Australia. His wife, father and children went with him and North London lost a fine old piano tuner. I think this shop was one of the very earliest record stores in London.

Most of the stock was shellac discs and later the first LPs when they were issued. I found cupboard drawers containing old piano rolls, cylinder records, and even a few one-sided shellac discs ½" thick. I suppose they may have been dumped since I don't recall a closing sale. Anyway I had already started working in Record Wholesales with Lugton & Sons in Tottenham Court Road.