Hi all,
Last Saturday I went to sell a Seraphone organette that I recently restored to an antiquaire. When I was walking crossing a flea market I saw a rusty gramophone but I was carrying the organette so I didnt stop to look it closer. 4 hours later when I was going back to my car I saw it again about to be loaded into a van because the flea market had finished.
I can swear that it called me saying "pleeeease saaave me from being lying in the sidewalk of this horrible flea market and shattering in this stuffed van...!
So I had no other option to go to the vendor and ask about it. I think that the owner saw the opportunity of making a last minute deal and told me a pretty fair price. I asked him for some minutes to inspect it while he was loading the rest of his stuff in his van and I saw that the motor was in perfect shape but the wood that holded the arm was broken. I also saw that the reproducer was in pretty poor shape, the horn was almost 100% covered in superficial rust and the felt was so dirty-rotten-infested that was almost scary to be close to it.
I made him an offer of half the price he was asking and after some negotiations he accepted.
Before arriving to the car I made an emergency stop in the parking lot to pull off the felt and throw it to a bin.
Here it is in all its rusty glory:
Kids call it "Mate" (as in Cars film) because they say that its as rusty as Mate.
The rest of the wood and parts are in remarquable good condition:
I've already glued the wood, replaced the felt and refurbished the reproducer.
It strikes me that I've found almost no reference to this Pathé model. No catalogs, no complete pictures, no idea of the year it was built... I would greatly appreciate any reference about this model.
I'm also investigating how to restore the horn. It looks like it was nickel plated and the lacquered in transparent blue-green. I've read somewhere that they were some like this but never seen one in good condition. I would like to find pictures of horns like this one but in good shape to make up my mind if I'm brave enough to stripe, de-rust, polish, nickel plate and varnish the horn because of the amount of work is tremendous and I fear that the end result may look "cheesy" by nowadays tastes. What do you think?
Regards,
Pedro Martínez
Pathé MODÈLE P "Mate"
- walser
- Victor II
- Posts: 210
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:34 am
- Location: Spain
- Contact:
-
- Victor Monarch
- Posts: 4172
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 4:23 pm
- Personal Text: I have good days...this might not be one of them
- Location: Albany NY
Re: Pathé MODÈLE P "Mate"
In my opinion, the horns were tin plated before being given a translucent paint.
- epigramophone
- Victor Monarch Special
- Posts: 5235
- Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:21 pm
- Personal Text: An analogue relic trapped in a digital world.
- Location: The Somerset Levels, UK.
Re: Pathé MODÈLE P "Mate"
Pathé disc machines were introduced in 1906, and until about 1909 each model had a letter designation. After that they had model numbers.
-
- Victor II
- Posts: 257
- Joined: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:33 am
- Location: France
Re: Pathé MODÈLE P "Mate"
Hi Pedro,
You can find a lot of information on the Compendium (Timothy Frabrizio & Georges Paul). On page 171 there is a pic showing the Pathé P which was introduced circa 1907.
Jeff
You can find a lot of information on the Compendium (Timothy Frabrizio & Georges Paul). On page 171 there is a pic showing the Pathé P which was introduced circa 1907.
Jeff
- walser
- Victor II
- Posts: 210
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:34 am
- Location: Spain
- Contact:
Re: Pathé MODÈLE P "Mate"
Small update on this restoration,
I realized that I didn't have a sapphire for it so I borrowed one of my wifes Pathé Omnibus, took a borosilicate glass rod and a torch and started playing with it till I managed to do a 0.33 in (0.8 mm) perfectly spherical point.
Then took the lathe and a few minutes later I did this: So it was a matter of putting a tiiiiiiny blob of glue to secure the press fit of the glass point into the stilus and voila! I also started derusting the elbow and pulling out the dents. It needs a good polish and nickel plating. I will make some tests to do not over restore it because I want it to blend well with the rest of the pieces. I hope also to be able to paint the horn this afternoon.
Stay tuned for new episodes!
I realized that I didn't have a sapphire for it so I borrowed one of my wifes Pathé Omnibus, took a borosilicate glass rod and a torch and started playing with it till I managed to do a 0.33 in (0.8 mm) perfectly spherical point.
Then took the lathe and a few minutes later I did this: So it was a matter of putting a tiiiiiiny blob of glue to secure the press fit of the glass point into the stilus and voila! I also started derusting the elbow and pulling out the dents. It needs a good polish and nickel plating. I will make some tests to do not over restore it because I want it to blend well with the rest of the pieces. I hope also to be able to paint the horn this afternoon.
Stay tuned for new episodes!
-
- Victor Monarch
- Posts: 4172
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 4:23 pm
- Personal Text: I have good days...this might not be one of them
- Location: Albany NY
Re: Pathé MODÈLE P "Mate"
The glass should work- but it won't be good for more than a few records.
- chunnybh
- Victor III
- Posts: 705
- Joined: Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:17 am
- Personal Text: "If I had all the money I'd spent on drink, I'd spend it on drink." Vivian Stanshall
- Location: Victoria. Australia
- Contact:
Re: Pathé MODÈLE P "Mate"
I will second that & in fact say it is dangerous. I made a glass stylus a few years ago. It worked great for a few records and before I noticed, the glass had worn, chipped and chewed up several records. Really nasty.The glass should work- but it won't be good for more than a few records.
- walser
- Victor II
- Posts: 210
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:34 am
- Location: Spain
- Contact:
Re: Pathé MODÈLE P "Mate"
That's why I used borosilicate glass. I will keep an eye on it.
- walser
- Victor II
- Posts: 210
- Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2014 9:34 am
- Location: Spain
- Contact:
Re: Pathé MODÈLE P "Mate"
I finished it and spent all day going thru all my collection of Pathé records. The stylus is still like new!
I've learnt the art of pinstriping. I thought it would be more difficult but after practicing a couple of hours I was confident enough to do all the golden stripes on the horn and it went without drama. I've made the decision to put it for sale. I currently have 7 machines at home so I need to downsize (I have a self imposed limit of 5).
Regards,
Pedro Martinez.
I've learnt the art of pinstriping. I thought it would be more difficult but after practicing a couple of hours I was confident enough to do all the golden stripes on the horn and it went without drama. I've made the decision to put it for sale. I currently have 7 machines at home so I need to downsize (I have a self imposed limit of 5).
Regards,
Pedro Martinez.
-
- Victor VI
- Posts: 3001
- Joined: Mon May 13, 2013 2:04 pm
- Contact:
Re: Pathé MODÈLE P "Mate"
BUY A BIGGER HOUSE !walser wrote:I finished it and spent all day going thru all my collection of Pathé records. The stylus is still like new!
I've learnt the art of pinstriping. I thought it would be more difficult but after practicing a couple of hours I was confident enough to do all the golden stripes on the horn and it went without drama. I've made the decision to put it for sale. I currently have 7 machines at home so I need to downsize (I have a self imposed limit of 5).
Regards,
Pedro Martinez.