These gramophone needles were manufactured by The Gramophone Company Limited for use in gramophones that had an arm in which to insert a needle to play an old shellac record. The Gramophone Company was an early recording company based in the United Kingdom and was the parent organization for the His Master’s Voice label of recording devices. The company was founded in 1897 and merged in 1931 with another company to form E.M.I. (Electric and Musical Industries) but the name The Gramophone Company continued in Britain until the 1970s. Gramophones were a popular household item from the late 19th century until the mid 20th century when more sophisticated recording and playing devices were invented. These gramophone needles is of some interest as an example of entertainment devices of the past. It will be useful for display. .1This is a metal box with a lid containing an image of a dog and a phonograph (‘His Master’s Voice’) painted in white and brown on a dark blue background. Inside the tin are about 150 metal gramophone needles, most of them being a little rusted. The needles are covered with a sheet of brown paper with yellow printing. The tin itself is rusted and the printing is discoloured. There is a paper sticker on the back of the box with an early catalogue number (almost obliterated). .2 Small rectangular plastic container with picture of white polar bear with blue background. It contains approximately 30 needles which have red ends and silver points. .3 small plastic bag with a number of needles..1 Front of box: ‘His Master’s Voice, Extra Loud Tone’ Back of box: Approximately 200 English gramophone needles manufactured by The Gramophone Company Limited, Sydney, Australia’. Inside: ‘Use each point once only’ (printed twice). .2 50 semi- permanent needles on front of box. On bottom Made in Germany. gramophone needles, warrnambool, e.m.i., electric and musical industries

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