I have a machine that will play both Pathé and Edison disks in addition to laterally cut ones. By accident, I have a small collection of Pathé and Edison disks. I do not, however, have styli for playing these disks.
I am mildly interested in being able to play these records. The Pathé ones I can do sort of OK-ish with a cactus fibre needle. These needles do not work at all with Edison disks.
On EBay, I sometimes see ads for what is purported to be NOS Pathé styli. I see reproduction styli for sale at various gramophone shops online. I see occasionally Pathé steel-ball-tipped needles offered as NOS.
I have encountered a great deal of scepticism about the reproduction needles with doubts expressed as to whether their tips are actually sapphire or just glass. I am somewhat sceptical about the NOS steel Pathé needles.
Does anyone have advice informed by actual experience to offer here?
Thanks.
Advice on Pathé and Edison Styli?
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- Victor III
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- Victor IV
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Re: Advice on Pathé and Edison Styli?
If you buy NOS Pathé needles, give preference to the colored ones - some of the sapphires are colored blue or red. This way you will be sure that it is really sapphire. I cannot distinguish a non-colored glass from sapphire just by looking, even at magnification. I am not aware that new sapphire needles are being produced - despite of what sellers claim, I am still to identify manufacturers for these - so I assume that all new ones are glass, that can be made at home by melting glass.
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- Victor III
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