Horn-u-Copia's Display of Makers

Henton-Knecht

Philadelphia, PA

USA

1920s -

Professional saxophonists, Al Knecht and Ben Henton both played with Sousa’s Concert Band. They also had a music store in Philadelphia, Pa. In the early 1920’s they were ordering "stencil" instruments from various manufacturers and merchandising them via their store.




Benal was a model name formed from their first names.

• 
  1877 H. Benjamin (Benne) Henton born in Illinois


• 1884 Albert Aloysius Knecht born in Conshohocken, PA


• 
  
  1905-1919 Knecht & Henton play saxophone in Sousa’s band
  


• 1920 Henton-Knecht Music Store, #1734 Market St., Phila.


• 1922 H-K also have music Conservatory at store which moves to
  #24 South 18th St. in September; Conn dealer
  


• 1925 ad has them at #110 South 17th St. with the Conservatory (they may have had two locations at this time)
  


• 1926 the Conservatory is at #1714 Chestnut St.


• 1929 store at #24 S. 18th St.
  


• 1938 Henton dies and the store changes to Knecht’s Music Store


• 1942 store at #24 S. 18th St.
  


• 1953 Albert Knecht is the last living member of the Sousa band that travelled the world in 1911; store still at #24 S. 18th St.
  


• 1954 Knecht dies
  
• 1973 Store still in operation at 24 S. 18th St.
  

The Henton-Knecht store was always a Conn and Pan-American dealer even into the 1950s. There are many brass instruments labeled "Benal" model, which is their two names combined, and probably all Conn or Pan-American stencil horns. They never would have made their own.
These date to the 1920 to 1938 period.

Knecht was the key dealer for pro grade Conn into the 1960s. Got my great 8D (French) Horn there about 1960, as did others playing at high level.

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