Antique HMV (Victor) Monarch Gramophone No. 11. France, 1905.

Antique HMV (Victor in the USA) single spring and brass motor Monarch gramophone style Nº 11, made in France in 1905 and in good condition. This is a first-order collector's item, the first version of the popular Monarch gramophone, a real classic piece sold by His Masters Voice and made for the French market. These gramophones were produced between 1904 and 1905 so there are very few ones in the current market. This fact gives us an idea of how rare and exclusive the gramophone that we can see in the images is: it is surely a real collectors item. The motor has been cleaned and tuned to guarantee a perfect working order. When the gramophone works without records is somewhat noisy, but the noise fades out when a record is played. This is a particular feature of this model. The gramophone includes a solid oak wooden box with a dark brown color and deep veneer. The wood is profusely decorated with hand-engraved motifs and corner pillars that provide it with a stately style. One side bears an antique decal with the company name: French Gramophone Company (which would change its name to His Masters Voice). It is original from the time and is slightly worn. At the other end there is a great morning glory horn which still preserves the original red enameled finish. The painting of the horn is the original and is in a decent state of preservation. This extremely rare French His Masters Voice gramophone will enhance an exclusive dining room with its gorgeous look and the nostalgic sound of ancient records. Measurements: Box: Side: 32 cm. Height: 17.5 cm. Elbows Height: 32 cm. Horn: Length: 71 cm. Mouths Width: 60 cm.History of His Masters Voice Inside the cover we find the famous brand logo with the inscription HIS MASTERS VOICE clearly printed in golden lettering. The brand was created in 1899 from a picture by Francis Barraud depicting the dog Nipper listening to his dead owners voice coming from a phonograph. The Gramophone Company bought the picture, but before they told Barraud to change the phonograph for a gramophone of their own. The rest is history: the image became worldly famous and the firm eventually changed its company name for the brand name. The Gramophone Company, based in the United Kingdom, was one of the early recording companies. The company was merged with the Columbia Graphophone Company in 1931 to form Electric and Musical Industries Limited (EMI).