HMV Logos

When the HMV trademark first appeared on the label in February 1908, the lower half of the label contained the same information that had appeared on the Recording Angel labels. This included the company’s identification below the trademark, the language and vocal range or instrument, the selection, the artist(s)’s name(s), and the catalog number. The font sizes varied, as can be seen in various Figures IV.A.1.a. above.

From February 1918 until September 1926, various company logos were printed between two gold-lined quadrants placed at the lower left and lower right (see under Double-Sided Issues below). The logos were retained after the quadrants were removed in September 1926. Their use began with the introduction of the "His Master’s Voice" trademark in February 1909, and continued until the end of the 78 rpm era, as well as after the introduction of the double-sided DA and DB series in August 1924, continuing with the DJ, DK, DL, DM, DO, DQ, DR, and DS series by December of that year. These series were used to designate artist and price categories, similar to the use of different colors for single-sided issues. The DR and DS series were reserved for Francesco Tamagno’s 10- and 12-inch double-sided reissues, respectively.

see enlarged images

The logos shown above were used on single-sided discs between February 1918 and September 1926. Below are logos used on double-sided discs between October 1924 and September 1926.

see enlarged images

The six logos below were used after the removal of the quadrants in September 1926. Apparently duplicate logos differ by their size and position.

 

The BIEM logo did not belong to the Gramophone Company, but rather to an organization known as the Bureau International des Sociétés Gérant, formed in 1929. BIEM is the international organization representing mechanical rights societies, which exist in most countries. They license the reproduction of songs, including musical, literary and dramatic works. Their members are composers, authors and publishers and their clients are record companies and other users of recorded music. As a member of this organization, the Gramophone Company and its successors were entitled to place its logo on their record labels. When this logo or designation is found on HMV labels, one can ascertain that the record was issued after 1929.

trademark in black and white	trademark in sepia, 1939 - May 1946

HIS MASTER’S VOICE
after August 1910	after 1929

Trademark Variations

IV.B.6.a.1	IV.B.6.a.2.
IV.B.6.a.3.	IV.b.6.a.4.
IV.B.6.a.5).a.	IV.B.6.a.6).a).
IV.B.6.a.7).

Foreign Label HMV Designations

The five labels above IV.B.6.a.8). were used in the 1930’s for discs issued locally in Spain. The disc on the top left is that of a re-recording made on August 15, 1932. They were all manufactured in Barcelona.

The "His Master’s Voice" trademark, also known as the DOG, Nipper, or HMV trademark, appeared in the upper half of all labels of the Gramophone Company, its sister companies, and their successors, from about August 1910 until the end of the 78 rpm recording era, about 1950.

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