Playing center start Pathé discs

[edisonplayer]

I have one center start Pathé disc by Constantino.However,when I try to play it on my Sonora or Brunswick machines the tone arms want to go to the center.The conventional outside starts play fine.It plays better on my modern turntable.Why?edisonplayer

[mikejk]

Not sure if this will help, but I too have only one of these and the grooves are so shallow that unless the turntable is absolutely level the Brunswick tone arm would skate, or if there is the slightest resistance in the tone arm swivel it will cause repeating.
Mike

[tinovanderzwan]

the grooves of the Pathé center starts are finer and more shallow than the later outside start Pathé's its a common problem even on Pathé machines also a recurring problem with the center starts is that they tent to have a offset center hole and uneven thickness this is one of the reasons why the Pathé concert reproducer is so big it would keep the saphire firmly in its groove (most times) smaller reproducers tent to skip and sometimes dance all over the disc
also loud passages on the record tent to throw smaller reproducers out of the groove

skipping, shooting to the spindle, dancing all over the record its all part of the wonderful world of playing Pathé records it sounds absolutely shocking but the record comes to no harm


tino

[Edisone]

...

[edisonplayer]

Would getting a Pathé adapter to use on my Victor II be better to play the Pathé discs?edisonplayer

[mikejk]

I do not own a Pathé adapter for a Victor so I can't offer an opinion on that. Is it at all possible that your center start record has damaged start grooves causing this trouble ? Just a thought.
Mike

[VintageTechnologies]

Playing Pathé center-start records is problematic at best. I have generally obtained best results playing them on original Pathé machines. Some of those early Pathé reproducers were built using a lightweight black composite material and by having lighter mass they tend to track irregular (e.g. non-concentric spindle holes) records better than others. I have noticed that small diameter center-start records skip more than the larger records; either the grooves are shallower or the tighter spiral radius cannot hold the stylus in the groove against centrifugal force.

I have posted on this site before my opinion that the Brunswick reproducers have too much mass to track Pathé record consistently, even the edge start records. I have tried all the adjustments, including weight and head angle. My Brunwick sits on a solid concrete floor and has been shimmed under the wheels and checked with a carpenter's level to assure that it perfectly plumb and level.

I have an Pathé adapter for the Victors, and it is prone to skipping also. Tipping the machine slightly might help counter-act centrifugal forces.

Besides playing edge-start Pathés on original Pathé machines, I have had great tracking results playing them with a Fletcher adapter on an Edison Diamond Disc machine; the Edison's mechanical feed keeps the Fletcher constantly oriented in a near tangent position. For purposes of test-playing or recording problematic center-starts, I have even disengaged the mechanical feed and manually pulled the tonearm backwards to maintain a tangent orientation! That is inconvenient, but it works best of all.

See picture --> http://forum.talkingmachine.info/downlo ... &mode=view

[edisonplayer]

I have a Kent Master Adapter that plays both lateral and vertical discs.I can try playing the Pathé discs disengaging the feed screw.Thanks! edisonplayer

[howardpgh]

I have the Pathé adaptor on my Victor IV.
I can play my REX record, but the Pathés sometimes stick or they will skate.
It is possible there may be some lateral resistance in the arm and I never thought about being level.

[edisonplayer]

I have tried the Pathés with my Kent adapter on the C-250.I don't use the feedscrew as it would cause the reproducer to jump back.I just have the Pathés play with the horn moving freely.edisonplayer