Nipper, the HMV logo dog is recognised by music lovers across the world. The iconic logo featuring a phonograph and a dog staring at it has featured on hundreds of millions of records.
Francis Barraud was an English painter who had a brother named Mark. When Mark passed away, Francis inherited a bunch of his stuff. A phonograph player, recording of Mark's voice and Mark's dog, Nipper.
Francis observed that when he played the records, Nipper would run over to the phonograph, puzzled, as to make out where the voice came from. The scene remained so etched in Francis's memories that even after 3 years of Nipper's demise, he painted the same, calling it "His Master's Voice".
He tried selling the painting but record companies turned him down as they thought there's no connection (real brand connect) between a confused dog listening to a gramophone and a music label.
Little did they know that this painting was to become an emblem for the music aficianados.
The Gramophone Company purchased the paintings for 100 pounds. Fast forward to eight years and the hugely popular logo made the company change its name to HMV after the painting.
"His Master's Voice" logo was used around the world and the motto became well known in different languages. In Europe these include "La voix de son maitre" (French), "La voz de su amo" (Spanish), "La voce del padrone" (Italian), "Die Stimme seines Herrn" (German), etc.
Having featured on hundreds of millions of records produced by the HMV label over more than a century, Nipper was immortalized with his own blue plaque in London in Nov 2014.
In 1899 at 126 Piccadilly
Francis Barraud
completed his famous painting
of 'Nipper' that became
known as
His Master's Voice
British Plaque Trust
Tailpiece.
Got up at a 20' past 6, the chores and was ready by 10. Earlier, carried out the usual Wednesday 'aarathi' of the house.
Worked on the draft of Muthachhan's biography.
Ramesh had come by to complete the work that was pending. Helped Lekha in watering the plants.
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