BS: Nipper and 'His Master's Voice'

Subject: Nipper and 'His Master's Voice'
From: graywolf1980
Date: 22 May 02 - 07:08 PM

Hello,

I just wanted everyone's opinion.

This website covers the history of Nipper, the famous dog with head turned sideways looking into the horn of a record player, which has been seen on record labels. Everyone check it out and let me know what you think.

Subject: RE: BS: Nipper and 'His Master's Voice'
From: graywolf1980
Date: 22 May 02 - 07:10 PM

Sorry for the double post.

Subject: RE: BS: Nipper and 'His Master's Voice'
From: Gary T
Date: 22 May 02 - 09:49 PM

I'm from the U.S., and I was quite surprised to see no mention of RCA in the article. Presumably, the American mentioned who procured U.S. rights ended up associated with RCA, as that company used Nipper's picture and the phrase "His master's voice" as a logo for decades.

I must admit I didn't follow the idea that selling Japanese and American rights at the turn of the century resulted in obliteration of the British trademark when CDs came into being. I don't see how that should have an effect.

Assuming this story is true, it's interesting and has a lot of info I never knew. But from my perspective, the above points present gaping holes that puzzle me.

Subject: RE: BS: Nipper and 'His Master's Voice'
From: johnross
Date: 22 May 02 - 10:42 PM

The relationship between the Gramophone Company in England and the Victor Talking Machine Company in the USA goes back to the 1890s.

The Gramophone Company (which later became part of EMI) was established in 1897 as the European agent for two American companies that later merged into Victor (and was still later absorbed by RCA). The British and American companies were closely related, and when The Gramophone Company adopted the "His Master's Voice" painting as its symbol, Victor followed suit a few years later.

The dog and gramophone image was equally successful on both sides of the Atlantic (and in other parts of the world as well), and when the two businesses separated, each retained the rights to the image in different parts of the world.

So it's not accurate to say that the American who procured the rights ended up with RCA. More accurately, the two companies followed parallel paths.

There are a couple of good books that describe the early history of the talking machine business. The one I like is called "Since Records Began: EMI The First 100 Years" by Peter Martland, published in 1997. If your library doesn't have a copy, they can probably find it for you by inter-library loan.

Subject: RE: BS: Nipper and 'His Master's Voice'
From: Nerd
Date: 23 May 02 - 02:13 AM

Another crucial book in this regard is "His Master's Voice in America" By Frederick O Barnum III. Unfortunately, it was privately published by GE (which at the time owned RCA/Victor) and only a few hundred were ever printed, so you'll be lucky to find one. But in the US, Inter-Library Loan might find it. Elsewhere, I doubt if you'll have a chance of finding one!

I work in Camden, NJ, across from the old Victor plant, and L3 (what's left of Victor that has not spun off into GE, Lockheed Martin, Martin Marietta, etc) is a near neighbor. They still have a display in the L3 lobby of some of the early His Master's Voice paintings. There are also stained glass windows that shine over Camden with the Nipper image in them!

Subject: RE: BS: Nipper and 'His Master's Voice'
From: GUEST,T-boy
Date: 23 May 02 - 08:13 AM

For what it's worth, I seem to remember reading once that the dog is buried in Eden Street, Kingston-upon-Thames, UK.

Subject: RE: BS: Nipper and 'His Master's Voice'
From: MMario
Date: 23 May 02 - 08:39 AM

My grandfather worked for many many years for Victor before they merged and became RCA-Victor