Deutsche
Grammophon, or Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft is the main
label of the Deutsche Grammophon GmbH record company. This label
was in use since 1949. Before that the label used was Grammophon,
which appeared with the His Master's Voice dog-trademark.
Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft mbH was founded in 1898 by
German-born American citizen Emile Berliner as the German branch
of his Berliner Gramophone Company. Soon, in 1900, the 'Gesellschaft'
(company) was converted into Deutsche Grammophon-Aktiengesellschaft.
Based in Hanover. The company had links with the U.S.
Victor Talking Machine Company and the British HMV, but severed
ties to these companies at the onset of World War I.
In 1937, after falling sales, Deutsche Grammophon AG was liquidated
and the company was reconverted to the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft
mbH.
In 1941 Deutsche Grammophon was purchased by the Siemens &
Halske Electronics Company. Its distinctive stylized tulip logo
was introduced in 1949 after it had sold the German rights to
the His Master's Voice trademark (including the famous image
of the dog and gramophone) to Electrola, the German branch of
EMI.
In 1962 Siemens formed a joint venture with Netherlands based
Philips to create the DGG/PPI Record Group, which later became
known as PolyGram. |