Nipper Building: Difference between revisions

	Building 17, RCA Victor Company, Camden Plant
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
	New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Location	1 Market Street, Camden, New Jersey
Coordinates	39°56′50″N 75°07′38″W / 39.947284°N 75.127091°W
Area	3.7 acres (1.5 ha)
Built	1909
Architect	Ballinger & Perrot
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	02001253
NJRHP No.	3033
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 4, 2002
Designated NJRHP	September 18, 2002

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The Nipper Building is a colloquial name for The Victor condominiums, and formerly, Building 17, RCA Victor Company, Camden Plant. The structure is a historical building located in Cooper Grant neighborhood of Camden, Camden County, New Jersey, United States. Since 1901, Camden was the headquarters of the Victor Talking Machine Company, later RCA Victor. Originally a Victrola cabinet factory, the building was converted into luxury apartments and retail space in 2004.^[3]

History

The Nipper Building, now known as 'The Victor', was originally constructed during 1909-1916, by the architectural and engineering firm of Ballinger & Perrot.^[4]

Francis Barraud, an unknown British artist, painted a picture of his brother's dog, "Nipper", sitting attentively in front of a gramophone. Nipper, a mixed-breed dog with probable terrier ancestry, became the best known dog in the world. The painting, called His Master's Voice, was sold to the British Gramophone Company Ltd. and eventually became the trademarks of both the Gramophone Company and its new American affiliate, the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1901. In 1929, the Radio Corporation of America purchased the Victor Company and the acquisition included the Camden manufacturing plant and the "His Master's Voice" trademark.^[5] The four stained glass windows in the buildings tower depicting the "His Master's Voice" trademark were manufactured by D'Ascenzo Studios in Philadelphia and originally installed in 1915. The windows were illuminated at night and could be seen for several miles. In 1968, RCA introduced a new corporate logo and virtually retired both the "Victor" and Nipper trademarks. The windows were removed from the tower in 1969 and replaced with RCA's new logo painted on large sheets of plywood. Beginning in 1976, in response to public demand, RCA revived the "His Master's Voice" trademark and reinstated it to RCA record labels and other products. Nipper again was widely used in RCA advertising, company stationery, shipping cartons, store displays and repainted on RCA delivery and service vehicles. Several newspaper articles and news reports about Nipper's return, appeared at the time. April 10, 1979 was proclaimed "Nipper Day" in New Jersey by Governor Brendan Byrne, and RCA held a ceremony in Camden dedicating four new stained glass windows, identical to the originals, which had been reinstalled in the tower of building 17. These windows were damaged by vandals and neglect after General Electric, which had absorbed RCA in 1986, vacated the building in 1992. The broken windows were replaced in 2003 after the building was acquired by Dranoff Properties and converted into loft apartments and retail shops.

During the 1970s and 1980s, some parts of the Nipper Building were used by the RCA Government Communications Systems Division, for the development of computer systems for the U.S. intelligence community.

The Nipper Building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[3]

The Victor

After GE vacated the Nipper Building in 1992, it deteriorated, was vandalized and became a general eyesore to the surrounding neighborhood and was in danger of demolition. All but a few of the dozens of other old RCA Victor buildings at the Camden site had already been razed. In 1997, the building was listed on Preservation New Jersey's Ten Most Endangered sites list.^[6]

Utilizing the Investment Tax Credit, the structure was converted into a complex featuring a mix of 341 upscale loft apartments with outstanding views of the Philadelphia skyline. The restoration was completed in August 2003 at a cost of $65 million.^[7] under the guidance of BLT Architects.^[8] Approximately 80% of the project's funding came from private sources, namely through Dranoff Properties, Fleet Bank and Related Capital. Remaining funding came from various public sources including the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority and the Delaware River Port Authority.^[7]

References

^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Camden County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. January 10, 2010. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 4, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Landmark living on the Camden Waterfront". Retrieved July 18, 2010.
^ "RCA Victor Company, "Nipper Building" Rehabilitation". June 17, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
^ "About RCA - Nipper and Chipper". Retrieved July 18, 2010.
^ "10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey Archive". Retrieved July 18, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "2004 Preservation Awards Presented in State House Ceremony". Retrieved July 18, 2010.
^ "The Victor, Camden | 129743 | EMPORIS". Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

External links

[nris-1] "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.

[NJRHP-2] "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Camden County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. January 10, 2010. p. 12. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 4, 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2010.

[Dranoff-3] "Landmark living on the Camden Waterfront". Retrieved July 18, 2010.

[4] "RCA Victor Company, "Nipper Building" Rehabilitation". June 17, 2009. Retrieved July 18, 2010.

[5] "About RCA - Nipper and Chipper". Retrieved July 18, 2010.

[6] "10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey Archive". Retrieved July 18, 2010.

[Award-7] "2004 Preservation Awards Presented in State House Ceremony". Retrieved July 18, 2010.

[8] "The Victor, Camden | 129743 | EMPORIS". Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
 {{Infobox NRHP
-  | building_name = Nipper Building / The Victor
+  | name= Building 17, RCA Victor Company, Camden Plant
-  | native_building_name= Building 17, RCA Victor Company, Camden Plant
   | nrhp_type =
   | image = RCA Nipper Camden NJ A.JPG
   | caption =
   | location= 1 Market Street, [[Camden, New Jersey]]
-  | coordinates = {{Coord|39.949671|-75.126990|display=inline,title}}
+  | coordinates = {{Coord|39.947284|-75.127091|display=inline,title}}
-  | locmapin = USA New Jersey Camden County
+  | locmapin = USA New Jersey Camden County#New Jersey#USA
   | built = 1909
   | architect = Ballinger & Perrot
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
   | added = October 4, 2002
   | area = {{convert|3.7|acre}}
-  | governing_body = Private
   | refnum = 02001253<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>
   | designated_other1_name = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
@@ Line 19: / Line 18: @@
   | designated_other1_link = New Jersey Register of Historic Places
   | designated_other1_date = September 18, 2002
-  | designated_other1_number = 3033<ref name=NJRHP>{{cite web | title=New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Camden County | url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/camden.pdf | publisher=[[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] - Historic Preservation Office | page=12 | date=January 10, 2010 | accessdate=May 26, 2010}}</ref>
+  | designated_other1_number = 3033<ref name=NJRHP>{{cite web | title=New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Camden County | url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/camden.pdf | publisher=[[New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection]] - Historic Preservation Office | page=12 | date=January 10, 2010 | accessdate=May 26, 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604121611/http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/1identify/lists/camden.pdf | archivedate=June 4, 2011 }}</ref>
   | designated_other1_num_position = bottom
   | designated_other1_color = #ffc94b
 }}
-The '''Nipper Building''' is a colloquial name for ''The Victor'' condominiums, and formerly, Building 17, [[RCA Victor]] Company, Camden Plant. The structure is a historical building located in [[Cooper Grant, Camden|Cooper Grant]] neighborhood of [[Camden, New Jersey|Camden]], [[Camden County, New Jersey|Camden County]], [[New Jersey]], United States. For many years Camden was the headquarters of the [[Victor Talking Machine Company]], later [[RCA Victor]]. Originally a [[Victrola]] cabinet factory, the building was converted into luxury apartments and retail space in 2004.<ref name="Dranoff">{{cite web|url=http://www.dranoffproperties.com/portfolio/the-victor/|title=Landmark living on the Camden Waterfront.|accessdate=18 July 2010}}</ref>
+The '''Nipper Building''' is a colloquial name for ''The Victor'' condominiums, and formerly, Building 17, [[RCA Victor]] Company, Camden Plant. The structure is a historical building located in [[Cooper Grant, Camden|Cooper Grant]] neighborhood of [[Camden, New Jersey|Camden]], [[Camden County, New Jersey|Camden County]], [[New Jersey]], United States. Since 1901, Camden was the headquarters of the [[Victor Talking Machine Company]], later [[RCA Victor]]. Originally a [[Victrola]] cabinet factory, the building was converted into luxury apartments and retail space in 2004.<ref name="Dranoff">{{cite web|url=http://www.dranoffproperties.com/portfolio/the-victor/|title=Landmark living on the Camden Waterfront.|accessdate=18 July 2010}}</ref>
 ==History==
@@ Line 30: / Line 29: @@
 [[File:RCA Nipper Camden NJ B.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.2|Stained glass window in the building's tower featuring Nipper.]]
-[[Francis Barraud]],  an unknown British artist, painted a picture of his brother's dog, sitting attentively in front of a [[phonograph]].  "[[Nipper]]", the alert [[Fox Terrier]], became the best known dog in the world.  The painting, called ''[[His Master's Voice]]'', was sold to the British [[Gramophone Company]] Ltd. and eventually became the trademarks of both the Gramophone Company and its new American affiliate, the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1901. RCA purchased the Victor Company in 1929. The purchase included the Camden manufacturing plant and the "His Master's Voice" trademark.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://home.rca.com/en-US/PressReleaseDetail.html?Cat=RCAHistory&MN=11|title=About RCA - Nipper and Chipper|accessdate=18 July 2010}}</ref> The four [[stained glass]] windows in the buildings tower depicting the Nipper trademark were originally installed in 1915 and were illuminated at night. In 1968, RCA began using a new corporate logo and de-emphasized both the "Victor" and Nipper trademarks. The windows were removed the following year and replaced with RCA's new logo painted on large sheets of plywood. Beginning in 1976, partly in response to public demand, the Nipper trademark was reinstated to many RCA products and used again in RCA advertising. On April 10, 1979, RCA held a ceremony in Camden dedicating four new stained glass windows, identical to the originals, which had been reinstalled in the tower. The windows were made by D’Ascenzo Studios of [[Philadelphia]], the same firm which had constructed the originals, 65 years earlier. The windows were damaged by neglect and vandals after [[General Electric]], which had absorbed RCA in 1986, vacated the building in the 1990s. The windows were replaced in 2003 after the building was acquired by Dranoff Properties and converted into loft apartments.
+[[Francis Barraud]],  an unknown British artist, painted a picture of his brother's dog, "[[Nipper]]", sitting attentively in front of a [[Phonograph|gramophone]]. Nipper, a mixed-breed dog with probable terrier ancestry, became the best known dog in the world.  The painting, called ''[[His Master's Voice]]'', was sold to the British [[Gramophone Company]] Ltd. and eventually became the trademarks of both the Gramophone Company and its new American affiliate, the [[Victor Talking Machine Company]] in 1901. In 1929, the [[Radio Corporation of America]] purchased the Victor Company and the acquisition included the Camden manufacturing plant and the "His Master's Voice" trademark.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://home.rca.com/en-US/PressReleaseDetail.html?Cat=RCAHistory&MN=11|title=About RCA - Nipper and Chipper|accessdate=18 July 2010}}</ref> The four [[stained glass]] windows in the buildings tower depicting the "His Master's Voice" trademark were manufactured by [[Nicola D'Ascenzo|D'Ascenzo Studios]] in Philadelphia and originally installed in 1915. The windows were illuminated at night and could be seen for several miles. In 1968, RCA introduced a new corporate logo and virtually retired both the "Victor" and Nipper trademarks. The windows were removed from the tower in 1969  and replaced with RCA's new logo painted on large sheets of plywood. Beginning in 1976, in response to public demand, RCA revived the "His Master's Voice" trademark and reinstated it to RCA record labels and other products. Nipper again was widely used in RCA advertising, company stationery, shipping cartons, store displays and repainted on RCA delivery and service vehicles. Several newspaper articles and news reports about Nipper's return, appeared at the time. April 10, 1979 was proclaimed "Nipper Day" in  New Jersey by Governor [[Brendan Byrne]], and RCA held a ceremony in Camden dedicating four new stained glass windows, identical to the originals, which had been reinstalled in the tower of building 17. These windows were damaged by vandals and neglect after [[General Electric]], which had absorbed RCA in 1986, vacated the building in 1992. The broken windows were replaced in 2003 after the building was acquired by Dranoff Properties and converted into loft apartments and retail shops.
+During the 1970s and 1980s, some parts of the Nipper Building were used by the RCA Government Communications Systems Division, for the development of computer systems for the U.S. intelligence community.
-The Nipper Building is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="Dranoff" />
+The Nipper Building is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="Dranoff" />
-==The Victor==
-After manufacturing ceased in 1992, the building became vacant, vandalized and a general eyesore to the surrounding area and was in danger of demolition. Most of the other dozens of old RCA Victor buildings at the Camden site had already been razed. In 1997, the building was listed on Preservation New Jersey's ''Ten Most Endangered sites list''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.preservationnj.org/site/ExpEng/index.php?/ten_most/archive_by_year_detail/1997/Nipper_Building_RCA|title=10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey Archive|accessdate=18 July 2010}}</ref>
+== The Victor ==
-[[Image:WPSJ-LD 8.6 ID.jpg|thumb|150px|right|As pictured in [[WPSJ-CD|WPSJ-LD]] logo card, 2011.]]
+After GE vacated the Nipper Building in 1992, it deteriorated, was vandalized and became a general eyesore to the surrounding neighborhood and was in danger of demolition. All but a few of the dozens of other old RCA Victor buildings at the Camden site had already been razed. In 1997, the building was listed on Preservation New Jersey's ''Ten Most Endangered sites list''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.preservationnj.org/site/ExpEng/index.php?/ten_most/archive_by_year_detail/1997/Nipper_Building_RCA|title=10 Most Endangered Historic Sites in New Jersey Archive|accessdate=18 July 2010}}</ref>
-Utilizing the [[Investment Tax Credit]], the structure was converted into a complex featuring a mix of 341 upscale loft apartments with outstanding views of the [[Philadelphia]] skyline. The restoration was completed in August 2003 at a cost of $65 million.<ref name="Award">{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/4sustain/awds2004.htm#4|title=2004 Preservation Awards Presented in State House Ceremony|accessdate=18 July 2010}}</ref> Approximately 80% of the project's funding came from private sources, namely through [[Dranoff Properties]], [[Fleet Bank]] and Related Capital. Remaining funding came from various public sources including the [[Casino Reinvestment Development Authority]], the [[New Jersey Redevelopment Authority]] and the [[Delaware River Port Authority]].<ref name="Award"/>
+Utilizing the [[Investment Tax Credit]], the structure was converted into a complex featuring a mix of 341 upscale loft apartments with outstanding views of the [[Philadelphia]] skyline. The restoration was completed in August 2003 at a cost of $65 million.<ref name="Award">{{cite web|url=http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/4sustain/awds2004.htm#4|title=2004 Preservation Awards Presented in State House Ceremony|accessdate=18 July 2010}}</ref> under the guidance of [[BLT Architects]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/129743/the-victor-camden-nj-usa |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307023741/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/129743/the-victor-camden-nj-usa |archive-date=2016-03-07 |title=The Victor, Camden {{!}} 129743 {{!}} EMPORIS}}</ref> Approximately 80% of the project's funding came from private sources, namely through [[Dranoff Properties]], [[Fleet Bank]] and Related Capital. Remaining funding came from various public sources including the [[Casino Reinvestment Development Authority]], the [[New Jersey Redevelopment Authority]] and the [[Delaware River Port Authority]].<ref name="Award" />
 == See also ==
@@ Line 50: / Line 49: @@
 *[[Nipper]]
 *[[RCA]]
-{{-}}
+{{Clear}}
 ==References==
@@ Line 57: / Line 56: @@
 ==External links==
 {{commons category|Nipper Building}}
-*[http://www.thevictorlofts.com/ The Victor Official site]
+*{{official website|https://thevictorlofts.com/}}
 *[http://home.rca.com/en-US/PressReleaseDetail.html?Cat=RCAHistory&MN=11 About RCA - Nipper and Chipper]
 *[http://www.dranoffproperties.com/portfolio/the-victor/ Dranoff Properties profile]
@@ Line 66: / Line 65: @@
 [[Category:Buildings and structures in Camden, New Jersey]]
 [[Category:National Historic Landmarks in New Jersey]]
-[[Category:Buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey]]
+[[Category:Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in New Jersey]]
-[[Category:Neoclassical architecture]]
+[[Category:Neoclassical architecture in New Jersey]]
-[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1909]]
+[[Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1916]]
 [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Camden County, New Jersey]]
 [[Category:Apartment buildings in New Jersey]]
+[[Category:New Jersey Register of Historic Places]]
+[[Category:Residential skyscrapers in New Jersey]]
+[[Category:Skyscrapers in New Jersey]]
+[[Category:Victor Records]]

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