Horn-u-Copia's Display of Makers

One of the founding five partners in the Cleveland Band Instrument Company in 1919 was James W. Sistek (1881/2-1976). Sistek was the proprietor of a local music store well before joining in the Cleveland company.

Sistek Music primarily sold used and new band instruments. Sistek placed classified advertisements in publications such as Billboard Magazine by 1917 and continued doing so through World War Two. The store moved at least twice with addresses on Broadway in Cleveland, first at #4248, then #12912, and finally at #4628 by 1964. James J. Sistek joined his father’s company in 1925 at age 16 and may also have apprenticed as an engraver at H.N. White around that time. His son, James R. Sistek also joined the firm. Sistek Music had been capitalized at $10,000 while by comparison, Cleveland was capitalized at $25,000.

Although Sistek’s 1917 advertisements were strictly for cornets and trombones, Sistek went on to develop a reputation for trumpets. The early Sistek trumpets have many parts in common with the Cleveland trumpets made at the 6th street facility such as Holton-like caps and buttons, King style ferrules, and some escutcheons. The first trumpets have bell art that closely matches the 1908-1931 Holton standard bell art. However, this changes to a Cleveland style pattern by #1000. In 1918 Sistek quickly signed the new Metal-workers Union contract undermining Conn, White, Holton and others during the big strike that followed. Possibly raised pro-union, James J. was a member of the American Federation of Musicians as a performer.

Sistek built trumpets and manufactured over 5000 units with their own serial number sequence. The subsequent stencil line of six trumpets included New Wonder, New Jewel, Artist, Soloist, and Own Make.

The Sistek Music Company ended in 1970 or 71, when robbers shot and killed James J. Sistek, and then burned the store.

Timeline

• 1882 James Wenceslos Sistek born in Pilsen, Austria
• 1904 James J. Sistek born in Ohio
• 1906 James W. is an engraver living at #4240 Broadway
• 1910 James W., musical instrument manufacturer in census
• 1911 James W., musical instruments, #4248 Broadway
• 1914 James W. Sistek Band Instrument Co. is on union list, #4248 Broadway, Cleveland
• 1917 James W., musical instruments, #4248 Broadway
• 1919 James W. Sistek (1882-1976) one of five partners to start the Cleveland Band Instrument Co. in February
• 1920 James W. listed as a theater musician
• 1921 James W. still at #4248 Broadway
• 1925 White buys Cleveland Band Inst. Co. for student line
• 1927 James Sistek & Son, musical instruments, #5414 Brwy.
• 1928 Sistek Music Co. Inc., incorporates, James J. Sistek pres, James W. vp, William Sistek sec-tres, #5414 Broadway
• 1929 still Sistek Music Co.
• 1930 James W., inst. manuf.; James J., orchestra musician; Sistek Music House at #12,713 Miles Ave.
• 1931 all gone from city directory
• 1932 James (not sure which one), musician, r. #12,801 Holborn
• 1936 James J., Sistek Music Co., #5307 Broadway
• 1938 James J., Sistek Music Co., #4248 Broadway
• 1940 James W., musical inst. repairman, #12,912 Broadway; James J., musical inst. repairman, #4628 Broadway
• 1942 James W., m.i. repair, #12,912 Broadway; James J. is salesman for Josephine Sistek (his wife), #4628 Br.
• 1951 both James Sisteks still the same listing
• 1954 James W. now not listed for occupation
• 1955 Sistek Music, #4628 Broadway, James J. & Josephine
• 1970 James J. is murdered and the store burned, #4628 Broadway

" A few of the serial #s listed for the horns shown I was able to find in my great grandfathers original ledger written in his own hand. The trumpet with Serial #5083 was originally sold in February of 1920 to a man named John Wasermak for $65.00, he made a deposit of $35.00 and then paid it off by March of 1920. "