04/01/2025
128 years ago, an American businessman and a German inventor named Emile Berliner came together and founded the “Victor Talking Machine Company” or as its more widely known, “Victor”. In 1901 Victor came to prominence particularly due to a groundbreaking development in the area of musical invention. Berliner pioneered the gramophone in 1896, some 20 years after Thomas Edison invented the first phonograph in 1877. While Edison made the phonograph a reality, “Victor” brought the product to the fore of the commercial music industry and to a mainstream audience, releasing their “Victrola” phonograph line around 1906. By 1928 Victor represented a significant share of phonograph, gramophone and record products on the American market. 1928 also marked a merger with the Radio Corporation of America or “RCA” as they’re better known forming RCA Victor. The little white fox terrier “Nipper” dawned on RCA Victor products, an affable and kind pup ever so curious has been the iconic mascot for the Victor brand for over a hundred years. This trusty canine alongside the famous “His Masters Voice” slogan, has immortalised the brand and firmly branded its place in history as well as in the memory of peoples minds whom have owned and come to love Victor products. People still commonly refer to Victor as simply “HMV” (his masters voice) to summarise all Victor / RCA products both past and present. In 1968, RCA Victor became “RCA Records” and still exists today as America’s 2nd oldest record label ever. Pictured below are four tins designed to carry single-use grammophone needles, coloured assorted by their type of use, soft, medium and loud. Unlike today a volume k**b was not present and as such, different types of needles capable of producing different levels of sound were necessary. Also pictured below is a specially designed “Victor record repair kit” for Victor products. Today Victor products act as a source of historical fondness, whether it be the tunes, or simply that cute white dog everyone loves. If anyone has any fond memories of these products or stories please let me know and feel free to share your experiences and or memories with these products. Have a good weekend everyone!
