Rare Spanish Gramophone His Master's Voice Spanish Model Monarch 13 B. Barcelona, Spain, 1908

Very rare Spanish His Masters Voice gramophone model Monarch 13 B, made in Barcelona, Spain in 1908. This is one of the rarest models ever manufactured by the famous record label and gramophone maker. Very few units of the model Monarch 13 B were produced, being one of them the one that we can see in these images. The gramophone that we can see in the images is in perfect working order, having been cleaned and tuned in order to guarantee an optimal performance. The box and the morning glory horn are original from the time; the box has been restored and preserves all its splendor. All the gramophones component parts and pieces are original except the turntable felt, which has been reproduced following exactly the antique design. The gramophone mounts an Exhibition reproducer and a Monarch triple spring motor in perfect condition. The arm and the elbow that connect it with the horn and the box are made of silvery metal and are greatly preserved too. The elbow that holds the horn is fixed to it and cannot be dismantled, but otherwise it is in good condition. The solid oak wooden box is decorated with hand-carved openwork motifs in an art-deco style which was very popular in those days, especially in Barcelona. At the back of the box we can see an antique colorful circular decal and a label with information about the manufacturer. The missing decal belonged to the distributor. Last but not least, the superb red metal horn still preserves the original enameled finish. Entirely original and finely preserved, this extremely rare Spanish His Masters Voice gramophone model Monarch 13 B will shine in the dining room of a lover of music-related antiques. Measurements: Box: Side: 14.6 in / 36.5 cm. Height: 8 in / 20 cm. Horn: Length: 28 in / 70 cm. Mouths Width: 24 in / 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).