The first HMV branded store was opened by the Gramophone Company on Oxford Street in 1921, and the HMV name was also used for television and radio sets manufactured from the 1930s onwards. HMV stands for His Master's Voice, the title of a painting by Francis Barraud of the dog Nipper listening to a cylinder phonograph, which was bought by the Gramophone Company in 1899. For advertising purposes this was changed to a wind-up gramophone, and eventually used simply as a silhouette.A green mantel Radio set, 'HMV' , 'Little Nipper' c1930. The 4 tuning knobs are white, - one is missing - , the grill is white and the flex and plug are complete. Front ; HMV 'trade mark' ( dog with a cylinder phonograph' ) / " Little Nipper" hmv, his master's voice radio, gramaphones, radio broadcasts, early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, cheltenham, bentleigh, london england, little nipper painting, mr biehl, barraud francis

The Gramophone Company Limited acquired Francis Barraud's 1898 "His Master's Voice" artwork in 1899, after Edison Bell manager James Hough declined to purchase the artwork by stating that "dogs don't listen to phonographs." William Barry Owen of the Gramophone Company purchased the trademark on the condition that the original phonograph be replaced with a gramophone, and began using the artwork first in catalogues and gramophone machines, and in 1909 on record labels. It is unclear exactly when the artwork began to appear on gramophone needles. This specific tin was almost certainly made between 1899 - when the trademark was acquired - and 1931, when the Gramophone Company merged with the English Columbia Graphophone Company to form Electric and Musical Industries Ltd (EMI). However, the Gramophone Company was still used in some cases after this point, so it is not impossible that this tin could come from later. Gramophone needles were typically worn out after only one or a few uses, necessitating the purchasing of tins like this one filled with hundreds of needles to allow for constant replacements. "His Master's Voice" was an iconic brand in Australia for much of the 20th century, from the time of the Gramophone Company (when gramophones were still in use) through the subsequent EMI and HMV brands and the popularity of record players.This small tin is decorated with a red-painted lid surface, depicting Nipper the dog - an iconic symbol of the company - curiously looking into a gramophone. The red background is punctuated by white lettering, announcing the brand name and type of gramophone needle inside - 'Loud Tone'. The exposed metallic surface elsewhere on the tin is heavily tarnished everywhere except for parts of the bottom of the tin (which may have been exposed less than the rest of the tin if it was stored face-up). There is also partly faded, black lettering on the bottom of the tin, and a label on the stop side (opposite the hinge). The tin opens with a hinge, though it is now quite difficult to open. The inside of the tin is empty and undecorated, with similarly tarnished metallic surfaces.Front: " "HIS MASTER'S VOICE" / REGISTERED / TRADE MARK / LOUD TONE" Stop Side: "MADE IN Gt BRITAIN" Reverse: "APPROXIMATELY / 200 ENGLISH / GRAMOPHONE / NEEDLES / THE GRAMOPHONE / COMPANY LIMITED"music, 20th century