Antique La Voz de su Amo (HMV) Monarch No. 5 Gramophone. Mahogany Horn. Spain, Circa 1910–1915

Magnificent antique Spanish La Voz de su Amo (His Master's Voice, HMV) Monarch 5 gramophone, manufactured in Barcelona approximately between 1910 and 1915. This elegant external-horn gramophone stands out for the beauty of its mahogany cabinet, its delicate floral marquetry and its spectacular mahogany horn. Its Art Nouveau-inspired design reflects the appreciation for fine cabinetmaking and richly decorated furniture in early 20th-century Spain. The machine has been carefully restored and is in excellent condition and perfect working order, offering clear, powerful and pleasant sound reproduction. An antique phonograph of extraordinary presence, capable of becoming one of the most attractive features of any room. The cabinet is made of mahogany, with a beautiful reddish tone and a finish that enhances the richness of its natural wood grain. It features solid, elegant construction, with a broad stepped base, carefully crafted moldings and small decorative feet. All four corners are adorned with turned columns, while the sides feature beautiful marquetry panels with floral and botanical motifs inspired by the Art Nouveau style. The combination of woods in different shades against the light backgrounds of these panels creates a particularly attractive contrast and adds a refined decorative touch that enhances the entire cabinet. On one side, the cabinet retains its original period La Voz de su Amo decal, featuring the famous image of Nipper the dog listening to a gramophone. This charming detail is an appealing reminder of the machine's history and preserves one of the most recognizable images from the early days of recorded music. The cabinet has been carefully cleaned and restored, bringing back the beauty of its finishes and highlighting both the elegance of its proportions and the delicacy of its original decoration. One of the most impressive features of this gramophone is its extraordinary external mahogany horn, measuring an impressive 55 cm (21.65 in) across its circular opening. Its elegant flared shape is formed by several wooden sections that create gently flowing longitudinal lines, giving it a harmonious and beautifully proportioned silhouette. The warm reddish tone of the mahogany, together with the depth of its finish, gives the horn a truly spectacular appearance. This is the original period mahogany horn, which was already in very good condition and has undergone careful, sensitive restoration, primarily to refresh the beauty of its surface finish. The metal horn connector retains the original patent markings dated 1904 and 1905. The presence of this large wooden horn is one of the machine's most distinctive features. The Monarch 5 was normally marketed with a metal horn, but buyers could choose an elegant oak or mahogany horn for an additional charge. This option gave the machine a more refined appearance and also influenced its acoustic characteristics. Wooden horns are often appreciated for their warmer, smoother perceived sound compared with the brighter character commonly associated with metal horns. The mahogany horn is therefore not simply an object of extraordinary beauty, but also an essential part of the musical experience offered by this machine. The gramophone retains its original metal gooseneck tonearm assembly. It also retains its original Exhibition soundbox, which has been completely rebuilt, with the old rubber gaskets replaced and the mechanism carefully adjusted. This work has restored its excellent acoustic qualities, providing clear, powerful and very pleasant sound reproduction. Listening to an antique record on this gramophone allows the owner to enjoy the charm of early 20th-century acoustic sound reproduction, without the need for electricity or any modern equipment. The original spring-driven motor has also been carefully serviced and adjusted. It works perfectly, with excellent power and consistent rotational speed, sufficient to play an entire record without difficulty. The machine retains its original period components, including the small metal fittings and fastening elements. Apart from the rubber gaskets replaced during the soundbox rebuild, the only other replaced element is the turntable felt, which faithfully reproduces the original design featuring the La Voz de su Amo emblem. The entire machine is in excellent condition following its restoration. The combination of reddish mahogany, delicate floral marquetry and the imposing wooden horn creates a gramophone of exceptional beauty. Its Art Nouveau aesthetic, closely connected with Barcelona's decorative traditions, gives it a distinctive character that sets it apart from many British and American machines of the same period. This is one of those antiques that immediately captures attention, both for the richness of its details and for the harmony of the entire design. The gramophone comes with several original 78 rpm shellac records, including the recording of "Tres veces guapa" ("Three Times Beautiful"), performed by Jorge Sepúlveda, which we play in our video. Its new owner can therefore begin enjoying music immediately, listening to historic recordings on an authentic period gramophone. This Spanish HMV Monarch 5 represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire a gramophone of extraordinary beauty, featuring an elegant Art Nouveau cabinet and a spectacular original mahogany horn. Carefully restored and in excellent working condition, it can occupy a prominent place in a living room, library or study, bringing the charm and character of an authentic antique to any interior. A particularly desirable addition to a fine collection, a wonderful machine for enjoying music at home, or a truly special gift for anyone who appreciates antique gramophones, decorative arts and the history of recorded music. Measurements: Base width: 36 cm (14.17 in). Base depth: 36 cm (14.17 in). Cabinet height: 18.5 cm (7.28 in). Horn diameter: 55 cm (21.65 in). Horn length: 67 cm (26.38 in). History of La Voz de su Amo (His Master's Voice) in Spain: The origins of La Voz de su Amo in Spain date back to the early 20th century. In 1903, the British Gramophone Company, through its French subsidiary, established a branch in Barcelona on Balmes Street. From there, the company began developing its business in the Spanish market, playing an important role in bringing gramophones and recorded music into people's homes. Barcelona became an important center of activity for the company, which developed models intended for the Spanish market and adapted to the tastes of the period. Some were distinguished by the extraordinary beauty of their cabinets, featuring elaborate cabinetmaking and decorative details such as marquetry, turned columns, moldings and floral motifs. These creations reflected Barcelona's tradition of fine craftsmanship and the influence of Catalan Modernisme, particularly evident in the city's architecture and decorative arts during those years. By around 1911, the company offered a wide range of gramophones, from relatively simple machines to genuine luxury models. Among the latter were examples with elaborately crafted mahogany or oak cabinets and elegant decorative details. On certain models, including the Monarch 5, the usual metal horn could be replaced with a large wooden horn, available in oak or mahogany for an additional charge. This option provided a more refined appearance and sound reproduction with a different acoustic character, often appreciated for its warmth. Some of these gramophones commanded very high prices for their time, becoming admired objects valued both for their musical qualities and their extraordinary beauty. By 1912, the company already had its own facilities for manufacturing records in Barcelona. Later, in December 1915, its operations were reorganized under the name Compañía del Gramófono, Sociedad Anónima Española. Its growth continued over the following decades, with new industrial facilities on Comte d'Urgell Street beginning in 1927. Today, these Spanish La Voz de su Amo gramophones represent a particularly attractive part of the history of recorded music reproduction. Their distinctive designs and beautiful cabinetmaking, sometimes complemented by large wooden horns, offer a fascinating combination of mechanical engineering and Spanish craftsmanship. Well-preserved examples allow us to appreciate the remarkable beauty achieved by these machines and the important role they played in bringing recorded music to a wider audience. The Recording Featured in Our Video: "Tres veces guapa" ("Three Times Beautiful"), Jorge Sepúlveda, 1950 Edition. In our video, we play an original 78 rpm shellac record on this very gramophone, featuring the well-known pasodoble "Tres veces guapa" ("Three Times Beautiful"), performed by Jorge Sepúlveda and his orchestra. This is a Spanish release on the Regal label, manufactured in Barcelona by Compañía del Gramófono-Odeon, corresponding to an edition documented in 1950. The song was composed by Vicente Marí Bas (1912-1980), a musician from Alicante professionally known as Laredo. Its sheet music had already been published in Barcelona in 1949. "Tres veces guapa" ("Three Times Beautiful") became one of the most popular pasodobles of its time, with its cheerful melody and famous refrain celebrating feminine beauty. The composition continued to be performed for decades by orchestras, concert bands and popular musical ensembles. Jorge Sepúlveda (1917-1983), whose real name was Luis Sancho Monleón, was one of Spain's most popular singers of the mid-20th century. Born in Valencia, he achieved enormous fame through his performances of boleros, pasodobles and romantic songs, which became widely known through radio broadcasts and shellac records. His distinctive voice and sentimental style made songs such as "Mirando al mar" ("Looking Out to Sea"), "Mi casita de papel" ("My Little Paper House") and "Tres veces guapa" ("Three Times Beautiful") cherished musical memories for an entire generation. Although this Monarch 5 gramophone was manufactured approximately between 1910 and 1915, it can also play many later coarse-groove shellac 78 rpm records, including compatible examples from the 1950s, such as the one featured in our video, provided that suitable gramophone needles are used for this type of acoustic reproduction.