Mutoscope 1900: Nipper Runs Amok!
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This Mutoscope was commissioned by the German branch of the Gramophone Company, and sent to the London branch in October 1900. It comprises 700 photographs mounted onto cards and attached to a drum wheel, when the drum is turned in a 'What The Butler Saw' type of machine, it gives the impression of movement. The film shows one gentleman preparing a gramophone while another watches. These gentleman are said to be Theodore Birnbaum, then Manager of the Berlin Sales Branch and Sinkler Darby, one of the Gram Co.'s recording experts based in Germany. Soon Nipper appears and starts to howl at the sound coming out of the gramophone. The men watch on in amusement and then lift up the dog - with hilarious results! This table model mutoscope machine complete with the Nipper film were still at the company's office in the 1960's, but disappeared when the record factory moved to Uxbridge Road. Happily, the mutoscope drum - albeit without the machine - has since been returned to the EMI Archive Trust. The film was on display at the EMI Centenary Exhibition.
