Nipper entered the world as a stray dog in 1884. No one imagined he would serve as a model for the world’s most famous and well-loved trademark.The feisty fox terrier lived in Bristol, England with his owner Mark Barraud. Nipper became well-known with town residents because of his trick of nipping (biting) ankles. When Barraud died Nipper went to live with the man’s younger brother, Francis who happened to be a skillful painter. Francis and Nipper spent many happy days in his studio, with Nipper sitting in front of his Edison phonograph. Cocking his furry head, he listened to his master’s voice coming from the cylinder phonograph.
Years after the faithful companion’s death, the memory of his little pet sitting by the gramophone inspired him to put the scene on canvas. Originally titled “Dog Listening to Phonograph”, the painting was later retitled “His Master’s Voice”. Barraud tried, unsuccessfully, to sell the painting to the Edison Company. He then painted over the Edison phonograph, replacing it with a Victrola, using a model of a gramophone loaned to him by the Berliner Company. The revised painting quickly sold to the Berliner Gramophone Company for a total price of 100 pounds – or $160.94 at today’s currency exchange rates.
In 1910, Berliner Gramophone Factory registered Nipper as the company’s trademark. Nipper first appeared as an advertising icon on the label of the record “Hello My Baby” recorded by Frank Banta. The Berliner Gramophone Factory also released a Super Celebrity record series that featured a pink -- not red -- label and the famous “His Master’s Voice” trademark. Some of the stars highlighted in this series were Adelina Patti, Caruso, Ruffo, Plancon, and Farrar.
Victor Talking Machine Company purchased the Berliner Gramophone Company along with the rights to Nipper. In 1929, Victor Talking Machine Company merged with RCA and became RCA Victor; the Nipper trademark is still used today by authorized divisions in some countries. The globalization of world trade raised complex trademark issues and in some countries Nipper cannot be used for advertising purposes.
The replicas of the world’s most famous trademark can be seen in various American communities. The world’s largest Nipper statue is in Albany, NY. There he sits pearched upon the roof of the Arnoff Moving Co Warehouse, which use to be the tallest building in the city. Nipper is also in the courtyard of the City Life Museum in Baltimore, MD. His likeness stands tall and proud on the roof of the Maryland Historical Society Building.
The Victor Building in Camden, NJ, nicknamed Nipper Building, once housed a 75 foot stained glass image of the famous dog. In 2003, the building was converted to apartments, and a stained glass image of Nipper was inset in the roof of the apartment complex. Statues of Nipper were erected in Moorestown, NJ. to honor Eldridge Johnson, the founder of Victor Talking Machine Company.
Chipper became Nipper’s companion in 1990. RCA added the fox terrier puppy to the original logo to focus attention on the new world of digital electronics. Nipper and Chipper are still used occasionally in advertising, shown staring at a television screen. The world of electronics has changed tremendously since Nipper made his first promotional appearance, but his fame is unchanged.
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