Henry Stave and Company
Bag donated by Johan Blazer and Derek Mann
My first visit to Imhofs: mid 1950s, went through the door, heard the Eroica. It was a Collaro transcription unit [I bought one subsequently] with an RCA cartridge, Decca yellow label LXT Erich Kleiber/Concertgebouow! [Can't remember what I did yesterday]. Just along Oxford Street, turn into Newman Street and there you'd find the EMG Handmade Gramophone Co. shop where comfortable and quality LP auditions were available. I wanted the latest Karajan: Pictures at an Exhibition. I asked for it by catalogue number. The assistant asked what it was and when told replied "We don't recommend that one! Have you heard the Toscanini version?" He took it off the shelf and ushered me into a comfortable sitting room, with the latest EMG speakers which faced the room's corners to widen the sound stage, set up the disc and and invited me to take my time. I was 21. Still have the disc and its CD re-issue. I also used to shop at Henry Stave in Dean Street. kitmed 2y
( December 17, 2015) Oh such a nice surprise to come across this page. I used to work at Staves. It was not Company just a canny one man show and he used the name Stave because it was musical and Henry because it sounded very English. He had an unpronounceable Jewish name.He was a wonderful eccentric and it was like working in a mad house but great fun.Love to hear if you have any memmories of shopping there. Comment: Daphne Morgan.
Comment: I only ever shopped for LPs in the late sixties at two places: Saville's Pianos in High Street, Walthamstow, and later at Henry Stave. I was attracted by their 'Guaranteed Unplayed' cachet. I still have all of the LPs, many with the small 'Stave-Sealed' adhesive disc intact. Colin Doman. (Oct 7, 2016)
Name Josephine Michell( later Sewell and Davies CommenI: I worked at Henry Staves from Jan.1962 - August1964.It was the most wonderful job I ever had..... Changed my Life!! Fascinating people we met in the shop during the two and a half years
I was there. Critics, composers, conductors and musicians flocked in the shop and there were SO many invitations to concerts, recitals & Promenade concerts. I actually went to the 1962 Covent Garden production of the 'The Rite of Spring' , and
Also the 2nd performance of Benjamin Britten conducting 'The War Requiem' in London. Halcyon Days!Robert, Warren. Mary ,Ann, Anneliese, MonicaJane, Janet, Gillian, Carole........ I remember you all SO fondly!. The BEST record shop ever. (Feb 20, 2017)
Name Peter Mechen Comment: Golly! Wonderful information concerning Henry Stave and Company! To think I bought LPs from him to post to New Zealand for about six years and didn't know anything of what Daphne Morgan has said - I simply assumed it was a kind of efficient, faceless record shop with a mail order department. Henry Stave was VERY efficient as well as being very kind, because he used to either replace or refund LP which weren't perfoect and which I set back to him (this was in the days when postage was cheap - nowadays postage firms charge like wounded bulls!). I have the most pleasant memories of dealing with Henry Stave, and most of the LPs in my collec tion dating from 1969 to 1975 come from that shop! I finally got to London in 1994 and worked there as a teacher for a year - sadly, when I went to No.9 Dean St. there was no sign of Henry Stave. I was so disappointed! I wanted to thank someone - anybody! - who had perhaps been there during my halcyon record-buying days for all the pleasure I'd got from those packages of LPs sent to New Zealand! (June 18, 2017).
Image Colin Doman
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Henry Stave Best Sellers record Guide Image Bernard Glicksman
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