Nipper

On the way to Cape Cod, we spent a night in Albany. Albany is the capital and oldest city in the State of New York. It was claimed by Henry Hudson for the Dutch in 1609, and has been a chartered city since 1686.

Lots to see in an old city like that, and a local guide came on the Big Red Bus to take us on a tour of the sights. We travelled the old streets through the city centre, passing the Dutch Reformed Church,  the Dutch Church, the Van Rensselaer Manor House, and the large homes of many of Albany's business leaders.  And there's a crazy theatre shaped like an egg!

But the sight I really wanted to see wasn't on the tour. I wanted to see Nipper!

Photo borrowed from internet.

Nipper stands (or sits) 28 feet (8.54m) tall on the roof of a warehouse in an industrial part of Albany. He weighs in at 4 tons and he's made of steel and fibreglass.  He's the last remaining Nipper of four brothers who were built in Chicago to advertise the RCA phonograph company, and he's been sitting on the roof since 1958.

Nipper's brothers in Chicago and Los Angeles don't exist any more, but he has a little brother in Baltimore who sits with a phonograph so he can listen to "His Master's Voice".

Apparently Nipper can appear with pink bunny ears at Easter, or a Santa hat at Christmas. Our only view of Nipper was from the highway as we left town. A big cheer went up from the riders of the Big Red Bus.