Antique Hmv Monarch Style 11 Gramophone - Phonograph, England Ca. 1903

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This extraordinary Monarch Style 11 gramophone or phonograph, manufactured in England around 1903, perfectly embodies the elegance and innovation of the Gramophone Company in its early years of glory. Within the prestigious Monarch series, this model stood out for its quality and for being designed for 10-inch records, becoming highly appreciated by music lovers of the time who sought both power and distinction. Today, more than a century later, it remains a coveted treasure for collectors.

The cabinet, crafted in solid oak, displays relief decoration of honeysuckle motifs, introduced precisely in 1903. These details convey not only strength but also the decorative refinement typical of high-end instruments. It also preserves the original decal depicting an angel writing with a quill on a disc, a hallmark identifying the Gramophone & Typewriter Company in the years prior to the adoption of the famous Nipper dog.

The metal horn, of the Witch’s Hat type, named after its distinctive conical shape, is considered original and has been thoroughly restored. Its slender silhouette provides a clear and enveloping sound projection that recalls the vividness of the earliest recording experiences. The Exhibition soundbox, correct for this model, ensures faithful reproduction, while the motor, in excellent working order, allows the magic of early twentieth-century sound to come alive once more.

As for interventions, the elbow joint and the turntable felt have been replaced, a common occurrence in centenary machines where these parts are among the first to deteriorate. The replacements were carried out with care to maintain both the aesthetic and functional coherence of the set. In short, this is a professional and respectful restoration, aimed at preserving the essence of the apparatus without altering its authenticity.

This Monarch Style 11 is not just a phonographic device: it is a piece of history materialized, a testimony of how recorded music transformed culture and domestic leisure. Thanks to its impeccable presentation, it would be magnificent as a centerpiece in a vintage-style living room, or as a prestigious addition to any collection of historic gramophones. A machine which, due to its rarity and state of preservation, represents both a secure investment and a fascinating experience for the ear and the eye.

Do not miss the opportunity to own a gramophone that symbolizes the birth of the modern music industry and that, beyond its material value, transmits the pioneering spirit of an unrepeatable era.

Measurements: Horn length: 59 cm (23.23 in). Horn diameter: 31.5 cm (12.40 in). Cabinet width: 33 cm (13 in). Cabinet depth: 33 cm (13 in). Cabinet height: 15 cm (5.91 in).

History of “His Master’s Voice”

The origin of the “His Master’s Voice” trademark dates back to the 1890s, when British painter Francis Barraud immortalized his dog Nipper attentively listening to a phonograph. Shortly afterwards, the Gramophone Company acquired the rights to the painting and asked the artist to replace the original cylinder phonograph with a disc gramophone, thus enabling its use as a commercial emblem.

The Gramophone Company, founded in 1898 in the United Kingdom, was the European branch of Emile Berliner’s invention. From the very beginning it produced both records and gramophones, and soon expanded throughout the British Empire. Before 1909, its disc labels bore names such as “Gramophone & Typewriter” (G&T), while the image of Nipper began to consolidate shortly afterwards.

In 1909 the HMV record label was officially born, incorporating the dog-and-gramophone painting on its records. In 1921 the first HMV shop opened on Oxford Street in London. The prestige of the brand reached international levels, leading in 1931 to its merger with Columbia, giving rise to EMI, one of the great music companies of the twentieth century.

In those early years, the recorded music market was still a novelty, and companies not only sold the devices but also had to convince the public of the usefulness of records as a form of entertainment. It was precisely thanks to gramophones such as the Monarch Style 11 that music ceased to be exclusive to theaters and salons, reaching the homes of the middle class. This democratization of recorded sound marked a radical change in the way people related to music, allowing artists, repertoires and styles to circulate worldwide.

For this reason, this gramophone should not be seen solely as a technical object, but as a silent protagonist of a cultural revolution. Every surviving example is a tangible testimony of that era of experimentation, ingenuity and creativity that forever transformed the history of music.

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