Ernest W Agate born in 1880 was the son of William J Agate (Died 1915). Both were musician/composers livingin 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 & shop were purchased by Mr Loufer, who was a Piano Tuner & restorer. He continued to sell Pianos, Sheet Music, every kind of musical instrument, plus accessories & 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 Artistes & Repertoire Manager for EMI Australia. His wife, father & children went with him & 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 & later the first LPs when they were issued. I found cupboard drawers containing old Piano Rolls, Cylinder Records,& even a few one-sided shellac discs 1/2" 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.
Chris Ivory "My father also worked for Lugton's from just after WW2 until the mid 1970's.
Do you recall Sam Ivory?" ( May 1, 2016)
