The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi,

Last week someone from La Rioja sent me some pictures of a "Phonograph Goquet" (instead of Coquet) in a pitiful state. I asked for more pictures and saw also that a pair of heads (reproducer and recorder) were included. Long story short, one week later it was at home because I thought I could save a couple of pieces for my other machines.

It arrived today and after inspecting it I have to admit that I've love it and I'm thinking about restoring it during the following months.

It's missing quite a few pieces but before making questions let me show some pictures:
Dust, water damage and a feast of woodworm.
In some places it literally falls apart.
Rust everywhere and the carriage is frozen in the axle.
Barrel nut is missing and the pinion is badly damaged. I might have a replacement or else it will be a matter of some hours with the lathe.
Inside is also rusty. Governor is in pieces and missing all the bolts. I think I have spares for all that or in any case I know where I can find them.
Half nut and head-horn tube connector missing. I have the swiveling part that connects to the reproducer. You can see it on the picture with the governor pieces. I can do the tube with the lathe if I don't find one.

I've reached the limit of pictures in a post. I will post the remaining in a minute.

These are the two heads:
I need a new glass diaphragm, dome and sapphire for the reproducer. Both of them are also missing the rigid collet to attach to the swiveling arm.

So thats it! I assume it will never be a museum piece but the fun of restoring it will be unforgettable.

I have for now just one question:

How do the reproducer and recorder attach to the swiveling tube? I see there is a slot for positioning them but I dont see how they are attached. On the Columbia Eagle phonographs I see a similar attachment but it uses a thumb screw to fix it. It looks that on the pathé there is not such screw.

Stay tuned!

Regads,

Pedro Martinez

You are brave and to be commended. I hope that you have pest control inspect that case.

I have already a liter of xylazel wood worm treatment for soaking it. Just want to test it before on the decals to see if I can save them.

And of course it is sitting on a sealed thick plastic bag outside the house till I can guarantee 100% that its free of woodworms.

walser wrote:How do the reproducer and recorder attach to the swiveling tube? I see there is a slot for positioning them but I dont see how they are attached. On the Columbia Eagle phonographs I see a similar attachment but it uses a thumb screw to fix it. It looks that on the pathé there is not such screw.

On the pic, you should see how they connect (without screw).
Good luck for this huge project!
Jeff

Thank you Jeff for the picture. It's just a tight fit? The tube looks a little bit tappered. Isnt it?

Best regards

Pedro Martinez

walser wrote:Thank you Jeff for the picture. It's just a tight fit? The tube looks a little bit tappered. Isnt it?

Hi,
As far I can see (and try to measure...), it's just a tight fit.
I made one more pic which could be helpfull.
Regards,
Jeff

Thank you very much indeed Jeff!

Today I made some progress during lunch time. The carriage moves free now and the shafts and all the upper metalwork is rust free and polished.

I managed to save the two big gears by carefully filing the damaged teeth with jewellers files and measured the mandrel gear to be able to reproduce it. I asked on a website that makes gears on demand and the cost was ridiculously high so I will make it.

I also found a picture of the brake because mine is missing one piece. Now I know what to do with it but I need to find some thin steel spring plate and figure out how to solder the piece that holds it.

This night I will start working on the mandrel itself. It has a big dent and I'm wondering if its possible to disassemble it and straighten it from the interior. I will post some pictures later.

Way to go for bringing this back to life! Let me know if you need photos of anything, I have the same machine that is in good working order. Still trying to locate an original reproducer for it, I only have a cheap repro that doesn't sound very good at all.

It's always nice to see a machine brought back from a near certain demise. Good luck.