His Master's Voice gramophone needle tins

Needle tins were the unsung heroes of early gramophone culture, designed to hold the steel needles that brought those crackly old shellac records to life. Packed with anywhere from 100 to 200 needles, most needles were one-and-done, but a few could stick around for a handful of spins. While standard practice at the time, their expendability seems wasteful by today's standards. The needles came in Soft, Medium, Loud and Extra Loud, each claiming to offer a different auditory experience for listeners. This particular tin was made by the Gramophone Company, the British parent of the legendary His Master’s Voice label. The iconic logo, featuring Nipper the dog leaning in to listen to the music, has become one of the most enduring images in music history. The illustration transforms this tin from a utilitarian object into a visually charming reminder of a forgotten aspect of gramophone ownership.