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Mike
kriss17388
Perry Swain
HMV - The Beginnings - 1898 - 1990
HMV - The BeginningsA beginning, at least. Photos from HMV's Get Closer, which may be worth a look for more recent developments :). Will do some more hunting over the weekendSubsidiary of 'The Gramaphone Company', formed in 1898 by Trevor Williams & Barry Owen.
Nipper & 'His Master's Voice' appeared on first record in the UK in 1909, replacing TGC's 'Recording Angel'. (Survives in 'Angel Records'). - coins the term 'HMV Records'. From the beginning: Cutting Edge and Expansionist:In 1921, the first HMV store opens on Oxford Street - opened by Sir Edward Elgar, and described as "the most up-to-date and artistic business house yet seen in London".
Dec: 1921 - 9 foot man illumination with revolving gramophone outside the store at Christmas "the most striking illuminated electric motion sign yet seen in London".
1934: 4 Month tour of Britain on the 'HMV Train' showing goods to the country, and delivering to selected retailers. 1931 - Gramophone Company merges with the Columbia Gramophone Company to form parent company of HMV, Electric and Musical Industries Ltd.
Dec 1937 - HMV burns down. New, bigger store opened, Ground Floor: Gramophones, Lower Ground: Household applicances, Electric Kitchen. First Floor: Radio and Recording Studio. Survive War, though further fragments the Nipper/HMV brand (JVC, RCA)1953 - New Store Design: Browsing. Encouraging new markets (Teenagers, Office Workers: FASTER).1960s - Further diversification & expansion - acquired Saville Pianos and four other record stores to expand chain. EMI remove Pop music from HMV label (goes to Columbia), & label becomes exclusively Classical. By 1977, 39 stores country wide. 1980s - Thorn EMI. HMV Label abandoned and EMI Classics started (Worldwide usage, worldwide demand for CDs - brand issues). Stores shifted to Thorn EMI Retail.
1986 - HMV Group formed - strategies for UK and International Development. By 1990 - stores in UK, Ireland, Canada, USA, Australia and Japan. Between 1970 and 2000 - serious growth. By 1996 - 300 Stores, worldwide.
Nipper & 'His Master's Voice' appeared on first record in the UK in 1909, replacing TGC's 'Recording Angel'. (Survives in 'Angel Records'). - coins the term 'HMV Records'. From the beginning: Cutting Edge and Expansionist:In 1921, the first HMV store opens on Oxford Street - opened by Sir Edward Elgar, and described as "the most up-to-date and artistic business house yet seen in London".
Dec: 1921 - 9 foot man illumination with revolving gramophone outside the store at Christmas "the most striking illuminated electric motion sign yet seen in London".
1934: 4 Month tour of Britain on the 'HMV Train' showing goods to the country, and delivering to selected retailers. 1931 - Gramophone Company merges with the Columbia Gramophone Company to form parent company of HMV, Electric and Musical Industries Ltd.
Dec 1937 - HMV burns down. New, bigger store opened, Ground Floor: Gramophones, Lower Ground: Household applicances, Electric Kitchen. First Floor: Radio and Recording Studio. Survive War, though further fragments the Nipper/HMV brand (JVC, RCA)1953 - New Store Design: Browsing. Encouraging new markets (Teenagers, Office Workers: FASTER).1960s - Further diversification & expansion - acquired Saville Pianos and four other record stores to expand chain. EMI remove Pop music from HMV label (goes to Columbia), & label becomes exclusively Classical. By 1977, 39 stores country wide. 1980s - Thorn EMI. HMV Label abandoned and EMI Classics started (Worldwide usage, worldwide demand for CDs - brand issues). Stores shifted to Thorn EMI Retail.
1986 - HMV Group formed - strategies for UK and International Development. By 1990 - stores in UK, Ireland, Canada, USA, Australia and Japan. Between 1970 and 2000 - serious growth. By 1996 - 300 Stores, worldwide.
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