Spillers Records, established in 1894, is recognised as the worlds oldest record shop.

History

Spillers was founded in 1894 by Henry Spiller at its original location in Queens Arcade, where the shop specialised in the sale of

phonograph A phonograph, later called a gramophone, and since the 1940s a record player, or more recently a turntable, is a device for the mechanical and analogue reproduction of sound. The sound vibration Waveform, waveforms are recorded as correspond ...

s, wax

phonograph cylinder Phonograph cylinders (also referred to as Edison cylinders after its creator Thomas Edison) are the earliest commercial medium for Sound recording and reproduction, recording and reproducing sound. Commonly known simply as "records" in their heyda ...

s and

shellac Shellac () is a resin secreted by the female Kerria lacca, lac bug on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. Chemically, it is mainly composed of aleuritic acid, jalaric acid, shellolic acid, and other natural waxes. It is processed and s ...

phonograph discs and also sold and repaired musical instruments. In the early 1920s, Spiller's son Edward took over the running of the business and, with the aid of the popular accordionist and bandleader Joe Gregory, sold musical instruments alongside the pre-recorded music. In the late 1940s the shop moved around the corner to a larger premises on

The Hayes The Hayes () is a commercial area in the southern city centre of the Welsh capital, Cardiff. Centred on the road of that name leading south towards the east end of the city centre, the area is mostly pedestrianised and is the location of the H ...

. In 2006, the shop's future was made uncertain when the site rent was increased by Spillers' landlords, Helical Bar, who stated that they were keen for the shop to survive. A local campaign to save the shop was initiated, including a petition initiated by Owen John Thomas (then the Assembly Member for South Wales Central) and supported by members of the

Welsh Assembly The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...

Manic Street Preachers Manic Street Preachers, also known simply as the Manics, are a Wales, Welsh Rock music, rock band formed in Blackwood, Caerphilly, in 1986. The band consists of Nicky Wire (bass guitar, lyrics) and cousins James Dean Bradfield (lead vocals, le ...

and

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American reco ...

."The owners of Spillers Records, recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest such emporium on Earth, say that it will close unless a buyer is found.
"World's oldest record shop in the death grip of a developer"
''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'', London, 1 December 2006. In 2010 Spillers moved to the nearby Morgan Arcade, initially on a temporary basis, with the expectation that the move will be made permanent if successful."World's Oldest record shop ready for move"
''BBC Online – South East Wales'', 25 June 2010. In 2019, Spillers called for a boycott of

Morrissey Steven Patrick Morrissey ( ; born 22 May 1959), known :wikt:mononym, mononymously as Morrissey, is an English singer and songwriter. He came to prominence as the frontman and lyricist of rock band the Smiths, who were active from 1982 to 198 ...

and his music due to his support for a far-right political party.

Gallery

File:Spillers Records Cardiff.jpg, Second location in The Hayes (2007) File:Spillers Records, 31 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff.jpg, In the Morgan Arcade (2012) File:Spillers Records, Morgan Arcade, Cardiff 2.jpg, Interior (2017) File:Spillers Records, Morgan Arcade, Cardiff 5.jpg, Exterior (2017)

References

External links

Official website
{{coord, 51.47879, N, 3.17707, W, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Music in Cardiff Music retailers of the United Kingdom 1894 establishments in Wales Retail companies established in 1894 Shopping in Cardiff Buildings and structures in Cardiff Shops in the United Kingdom Castle, Cardiff