Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 17

Original 1940s HMV Illuminated Shop Sign Salvaged from Oxford Street Flagship

$3,327.12
£2,420
€2,846.84
CA$4,554.99
A$5,103.06
CHF 2,656.14
MX$62,145.45
NOK 33,835.63
SEK 31,863.61
DKK 21,251.29
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

A rare and iconic piece of British retail history, this authentic 1940s HMV illuminated shop sign has been salvaged with care and expertise from the legendary His Master’s Voice store on Oxford Street, London. With its distinctive bevelled, three-sided design and original mirrored glass panels, each face proudly displays the bold “H.M.V.” monogram flanked by the famous dog-and-gramophone logo — a hallmark of one of Britain’s most revered music retailers. This double-sided, internally illuminated sign is a commanding architectural relic, once mounted outside HMV’s flagship location, where it shone as a beacon for music lovers for decades. The typography, stylised in dramatic Art Deco fashion, is hand-applied behind glass — a meticulous process typical of mid-century craftsmanship. Restoration has been sensitively undertaken to preserve the patina and honest wear accrued over more than 80 years. The piece has been professionally rewired to current UK electrical standards and PAT tested, allowing safe operation for decorative or nostalgic use in interiors, showrooms, commercial spaces, or high-end private collections. Historical Significance: The His Master’s Voice (HMV) brand dates back to the late 19th century and became a cornerstone of British cultural life. Its Oxford Street store opened in the 1920s and became a landmark, not just in retail, but in British musical history — a place where generations discovered vinyl, celebrated new releases, and queued for artist signings. This sign would have stood sentinel through war, recovery, revolutions in music formats, and the golden age of British rock. This is not merely signage. It is a luminous fragment of cultural heritage — a collector’s artefact of Britain’s musical soul.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 49.22 in (125 cm)Width: 17.72 in (45 cm)Depth: 11.82 in (30 cm)
  • Power Source:
    Plug-in
  • Voltage:
    220-240v
  • Lampshade:
    Not Included
  • Style:
    Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1940
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Original 1940s HMV Illuminated Shop Sign Salvaged from Oxford Street Flagship Rewired & PAT Tested.
  • Seller Location:
    Alton, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: KC000251stDibs: LU10331245249202

More From This Seller

View All
Pair of vintage mitre cornered display cabinets
Located in Alton, GB
Wonderfully rare survivors of the retail display era of the 1920's. This pair of vintage mitre cornered display cabinets offers 360 degree glazing giving the perfect vista from all a...
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Cabinets

Materials

Brass

Second world war Spitfire 'apprentice piece' engineers bench.
Located in Alton, GB
Amazing find, this is an 'apprentice piece', rare as can be, we sourced this from a family who's relative had passed away. He had been an engineer man and boy in a factory in Southam...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Industrial Industrial and Work Tables

Materials

Wrought Iron

Vintage pill shaped bow ended display cabinet
Located in Alton, GB
Wonderfully rare survivor of the retail display era of the 1920's. This vintage pill shaped bow ended display cabinet offers 360 degree glazing giving the perfect vista from all angl...
Category

Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Cabinets

Materials

Brass

18th century Italian bronze fountain lamp
Located in Alton, GB
Italian bronze lamp, circa 1780. Originally would have been a fountain head. Wonderfully aged patination. Aged brass lamp holder stem. Scrolling a...
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Italian Rococo Table Lamps

Materials

Bronze

Champion Jockey, Cast iron hand painted pub or bar sign
Located in Alton, GB
A very heavy cast iron hand painted Champion Jockey pub or bar sign. Not seen one like this before, super rare. English. Circa 1950.
Category

Mid-20th Century European Sporting Art Sports Equipment and Memorabilia

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century 1950s Vintage Vaulting Horse by H. Hunt & Son — Liverpool
Located in Alton, GB
A rare and striking example of mid-century athletic design, this 1950s vintage wooden vaulting horse by the esteemed H. Hunt & Son Ltd, Liverpool, represents the perfect marriage of utilitarian craftsmanship and timeless form. Originally intended for gymnasium use, this solid piece bears all the hallmarks of the British educational athletic tradition—built for durability, but beautifully aged with character and grace. The branding mark on the leg—“H. Hunt & Son Ltd, Woodend Avenue, Liverpool 24”—authenticates its origin and era, placing it within the heart of British post-war industrial design. This firm, known for manufacturing high-quality physical education equipment, produced gym staples that are now coveted for their robust materials and nostalgic appeal. Constructed from solid beechwood and topped with a plush, aged tan leather or hide, this vaulting horse has gracefully weathered the decades. It separates into two distinct, fully functional components: a bench and a table—each capable of standing on its own both structurally and stylistically. The top section is luxuriously upholstered and softly worn, making it a welcoming seating option, while the lower structure transforms effortlessly into a charming coffee or display table. Whether placed in a refined living space, a high-concept retail environment, or a creative workspace, this piece adds a quiet sense of heritage and strength. It invites interaction and admiration without pretension. The mid-20th century was a golden era for British craftsmanship, where even utilitarian school and gym equipment was made to last. H. Hunt & Son Ltd was one of the key suppliers to UK schools and institutions, known for their dedication to quality and consistency. Items such as this vaulting horse were built to withstand generations of rigorous physical use, and now stand as iconic relics of British design history. Understated and evocative, this H. Hunt & Son vintage vaulting horse...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Sports Equipment and Memora...

Materials

Leather, Wood

You May Also Like

Antique Industrial Art Deco Brass Internalite Enquiries Illuminated Sign, c1920
Located in London, GB
A stunning illuminated 'Internalite' directional sign made in England by K.F.M Engineering. c.1920. Wall mounted brass frame housing the internal illuminations above single sided ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Signs

Materials

Brass

Rare Art Deco Brass Wall Light, 1910s
Located in Praha, CZ
Rare Art Deco brass wall light. Beautiful antique brass patina. The base can be mounted at different angles (visible in the pictures) The lamp is fitted with S19 brackets and include...
Category

Vintage 1910s European Art Deco Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

Antique Art Deco Brass Illuminated Advertising Cinema Reception Flambosign Sign
Located in Sale, GB
- A fabulous Art Deco illuminated Reception sign from renowned manufacturers 'Flambosign', England circa 1930. - The worn brass casing marked 'Flambosign' houses an etched lucite perspex...
Category

Early 20th Century British Signs

Materials

Brass

Large Vintage Neon Marquee Letter "i" from Pan American Auditorium
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Own a piece of Los Angeles history. This large neon marquee letter "I" comes from the interior of the iconic Pan-Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles and was removed in 1986. Each lette...
Category

Vintage 1930s Wall-mounted Sculptures

Materials

Steel

Important Sculptural Lamp, Vintage Industrial Art Deco Printing Roller, 1920's
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
Important Sculptural Lamp – Vintage Industrial Art Deco Printing Roller – Circa 1920–1930 A sublime and rare statement piece, this exceptional lamp has been crafted from an original...
Category

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Table Lamps

Materials

Metal, Brass

Art Deco Ceiling Fixture from Movie Theater
Located in Montreal, QC
Art Deco brass and polychrome metal columnar ceiling pendant fixture with eight star-point metal overlaid frosted glass lights and two interior lights and 8 lights in the side panals...
Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Chandeliers and Pendants

Materials

Brass, Metal