RCA-Victor Manufacturing Plant - Camden, NJ
N 39° 56.818 W 075° 07.640
18S E 489122 N 4421878
Constructed between 1909 and 1916, the structure was home to the RCA Victor Company beginning in 1919 and was known as the "Nipper" building, after its tower's stained-glass images of the terrier in the Radio Corporation of America's logo.
Waymark Code: WM5QT0
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 02/03/2009
Views: 11
"(open by appointment), 201 N. Front Street extends to the river and covers 10 acres with tall buildings of concrete and brick. The company is the world's largest producer of Phonographic records. Other products made by the 14,000 workers are radio and television equipment.
1n 1894 a customer came to the little general repair shop of Eldridge R. Johnson, bringing for repair one of the crude talking machines of the time. Johnson repaired it, studied it, changed it, and finally produced the first Victor talking machine. Leading singers and musicians were brought to Camden from all parts of the world to make flat disk records that Johnson substituted for cylinders. Johnson sold out in 1927 to a syndicate of New York bankers for $28,000,000 and retired. The company then merged with the Radio Corporation of America.
" --- New Jersey, a Guide to Its Present and Past, 1939; page 231-232
When I went to Rutgers in '86 I remember this part of town was horrible. These Nipper/RCA buildings were vacant and dilapidated. I actually went to class in one of the buildings. Over the next 20 or so years each building has been torn down to make way for progress, save this last standing vestige of a once mighty RCA empire.
The building is really impressive as it is huge. It overlooks the Delaware River and gives an awesome view of the Philadelphia City skyline. Campbell's Field (401 N. Delaware Avenue) is a 24 second walk away and the Adventure Aquarium is 250 feet away.
The most notable feature is the stained glass tower which sits 200 feet or so in the air, high atop Camden. I am not sure if it is undergoing renovation but side is missing a pane of glass and the other side (east end) is fully intact. I found an article HERE which speaks of NJEDA Environmental Remediation Grants to restore the building. The article states ""For decades the Nipper Building was an RCA manufacturing facility and a landmark in Camden," said Anthony R. Coscia, chairman of the NJEDA. "The building is famed for the stained glass window at the top depicting the old RCA logo of Nipper the dog listening to a phonograph". This grant is an important element in the decision to restore the Nipper Building and plans to convert it to condominiums as part of the revitalization of the Camden waterfront." (Source already referenced)
The posted coordinates are for the entrance which is on Market Street. The entrance is directly under the stained glass tower.