Re: [ARSCLIST] Fwd: [ARSCLIST] Early DG 78s/History

["Steven C. Barr(x)" <stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Don Tait" <Dontaitchicago@xxxxxxx>
>   This is for Roger.
>
>   The DG 78 thing is a bit complicated but I'll try to explain it concisely,
> OK?
>
>   "Deutsche Grammophon [Gessellshaft]" means only "German Gramophone
> Company." Gramophone for HMV, His Master's Voice. When it began, it was the
German
> branch of the British-based Gramophone Company, with the major pressing plant
> Hannover in Germany.
>
>   When World War I began and there were hostilities between Great Britain and
> Germany, the holdings of the Gramophone Company at Hannover were
> nationatilized by the Germans. The difficulties continued after the end of the
war. To
> make it brief, legal proceedings were finished around 1926. Courts then
decreed
> that HMV (The Gramophone Company) could begin to issue records again in
> Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia -- it had been forbidden to do so --  but
could
> not use the dog and phonograph illustration on its labels. HMV records in
> those countries therefore became, at least in Germany, "Electrola."
>
>   So after that, and until 1945, DG records showed Nipper and his machine in
> Germany. DG owned the trademark. After that they had to get another one...the
> tulip?
>
>   The Urlus 78 you cited from eBay might even be pre-World War I. No dog!
> What do you think?
>
Well...if it were pre-mid 1914 (and the outbreak of WWI)...wouldn't it
still include Nipper on its label(s)? The Gramophone Company, IIRC,
set up subsidiary operations in virtually all European countries...
and in each case the labels carried Nipper as well as a local-
language translation of "His Master's Voice"...right?

In any case, as I understand it, DG DID continue to press records
in Germany...including "pirated" versions of Victor Red Seal discs
for which they had stampers. Since WWI divided the two groups of
nations, each one as the others' "enemy," I would guess questions
regarding the ownership of "enemy" copyrights were ignored by
German courts.

DID "Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft" (I assume this was the
German name of their branch...?!) issue records bearing pictures
of "Nipper," and contemporary Victor and HMV(UK) sides? Or, were
Gramophone-Company-related sides simply NOT issued in "enemy
countries? As well, did DGG continue to exist once Electrola
was established...or did it simply disappear temporarily?

Steven C. Barr