SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL

July 2008 late note: In my view the bargain party is now over, and these little tins are big business. The costs are spiralling, with many achieving way over three figures, some even approaching four; so that anyone after a rare tin (eg. an early HMV or an Edison Bell with a working grip) needs to go much higher than when I wrote this guide. I suspect one reason is that, because of their size and beauty, the tins are so easy to display and look so good. A great collectors' hobby, offering great variety, and with fierce competition developing to own the elusive rare models.

Gramophone needle tins are becoming a very big business area on EBay. These are the tins that contained the needles for the old 78 recordings. Their design can be quite exotic and many remain beautiful works of art. Humour, seriousness and all stages between heaven and hell appear on the imaginative front covers of these tiny containers. Dog and Baby, Cat and Mouse, you name it and there will be a tin. In later years the Indian and Japanese markets became great meccas for manufacturers, with the result that you will find the most amazing range of offerings. Even rocket ships (this one is German):

There are literally thousands of different designs, with the biggest producer having been HMV (His Master's Voice) and its American sister, RCA Victor. The HMV dog, Nipper, is so well-known it would be fair to say he is the most famous sales dog in the world. Earliest HMV tins can be identified by turning them over- always ask what is written on the back. An original (eighty or so years old now) will have The Gramophone and Typewriter Company listed as the source (later models dropped the typewriter from the name). This is but one clue to the fascinating study that awaits you!

A tin with the needles intact (especially certain tins, such as the short-lived Tungstyle and Tungs Tone long play tins, fibre needle tins, and soft tone tins) can be much more valuable than an empty tin. Also a tin with its original paper insert (to prevent rusting) is generally more sought after, so keep that little bit of greyish paper safe.

    This little beauty recently sold for a mammoth amount on EBay- small, but different!

HMV (listed separately by some sellers as His Master's Voice) is the only brand to have had an in-depth study made (Edge and Petts, updated 1997). However the book is extremely heavy, and only 80 or so pages of this vast tome are devoted to the needles. Nevertheless, if you are a serious collector of the HMV brand, you cannot afford to be without this guide, as its illustrations will take you through the basics, especially with regard to the very earliest tins and how to identify them. A small Japanese book in the guise of a 45 rpm record also is of great assistance if you can find it- its drawback is that it is totally in Japanese, but the pictures are excellent.

Some tins sell for up to $US300, while others are available for next to nothing. You can build a collection of (say) thirty tins that can be proudly exhibited for around $US300 or so. One small specialist collection is pictured at the end of this brief guide.

Because of their light weight, the tins incur small postage costs. Be wary of any sellers that ask for big money in this department, as the tins really are small and secure airmail costs are minimal in most countries. 

Dealers from all over the world place their gramophone needle tin wares on EBay. Nowhere else will you even begin to find such a range, and also such rare treasures at such reasonable prices. One odd shape sold recently for around $US500. It is of course unusual but it shows what can be unearthed. Several have gone for around $US400. A white metal HMV tin (the earliest extant tin) was purchased from one side of the world and sent to the other in early 2006, for around $US80 including postage costs. This was indeed a bargain and will be worth considerably more to the right buyer at the right time. I doubt one would go under $US1000 these days- unless the seller simply didn't know what he had!

Below you can see one example of displaying your special collection. The rows of distinctive red, yellow and blue HMV tins are in fact all different in small details that you will come to recognise and be able to date. On the top two rows are the very popular but rare tungsten tins referred to above. These have delightful little hinged interiors. On the central panel is a four-partitioned tin, quite rare and of significant value to collectors. The blue piece at the bottom is for used needles. Enjoy collecting these tiny gems- there is always something new, yet all are so old.

Possible check list for searching tins and needles: Grammofono, Gramófono, Gramophone, Gramaphone, Grammophon, Grammofoon, Grammofon, Gramophon, Gramofon, Phonographe, Phonograph, Phone, Fono, Tin, Lata, Caja, Caisse, Boite, Box, Blechdose, Scatole, Scatolette, Agujas, Aiguilles, Needle, Nadel, Nadeln, Naalden, Nadelndosen, Dose, Doosje, Puas, Pick up, Punaises, Puntine.

<late note, 2007: I have noticed that prices are generally escalating quite fast, world-wide, for the entire range (so long as good condition is evident); my feeling is that the "educated" collectors have now picked up most of the bargains and are prepared to pay much more than they were (say) a year ago. There are also many new buyers so the interest is growing. Good for sellers, more expensive for buyers!>

=late note June 2008= It's starting to be a case of "get on or miss out" for many of the rarer tins. Their collectability and rarity has been well and truly discovered and their prices have shot up. There ARE big bargains to be had, but they have become very hard to find. I haven't seen a white metal HMV at ANY price in the past two years, and there's also a spiralling market in play for the early record duster/cleaners. They will obviously escalate in value very quickly.