Nipper – an unofficial but beloved symbol of the city (10 photos)

A funny statue of the RCA mascot stands on the roof of the historical society and charges passers-by with positive energy.





The popular image of Nipper the dog listening to a phonograph was used to advertise the electronics company RCA for a long time. This image was known as "His Master's Voice."



The original Nipper is believed to have lived in Bristol, England, born in 1884 and "so named because of his tendency to grab visitors by the legs." The dog was used in advertising by the original owner's brother, Francis Barraud, who noticed how intently and enthusiastically the dog stared at the gramophone as the record was playing.





An 1898 painting by Francis Barraud of Nipper looking into Edison Bell's cylinder phonograph

A large statue of Nipper can be seen atop the Maryland History and Culture Center in the Mount Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, in the 600 block of Park Avenue.



The Nipper figure was originally owned by D&H Distributing, located on Russell Street in Baltimore. The statue, manufactured by the Triangle Sign Company, was originally installed in the 1950s. When RCA discontinued the sign, collector Jim Wells purchased the statue and installed it in his yard in Merrifield, Virginia.



He purchased the dog for the paltry price of $1. A townhouse was built on the site of his home, and the street was lovingly named Nipper Way after the dog, who also lived there for nearly 20 years. Nipper was then sold to a Baltimore museum for $25,000 for a short period of time, after which he moved into his home atop the Maryland History and Culture Center.



There are other Nippers, though the Baltimore Nipper is perhaps the most popular.



The Nipper has no official legal status, but its place as an unspoken symbol in the hearts and souls of the city's residents cannot be overstated.







A statue of Nipper on top of a building in Albany, NY