Operating instructions for Pathé

[PaulG]

Does anybody know of a source to get a reprint of instructions for setting up and operating of a Pathé Le Menestrel? I had a question on how to set the height of the reproducer.

[phonodesbois]

Hi, I don't have the operating instructions but might give some advices if your Menestrel is the blue one just for standard cylinders rather than the green one (standard and inter cylinders).
Jeff

[PaulG]

It's the green color style. How different are the two models?

[phonodesbois]

Hello,
All « Menestrel » phonographs were made by Pathé but solely distributed by Girard & co (mail order company).
The blue Louis XV Menestrel was introduced in 1902 and sold only during 6 months. It just played the Standard size cylinders.

In 1903, Pathé introduced the Inter or « intermediate salon » cylinder format and the same year the green Louis XV Menestrel which played both the Standard and Inter cylinders. With the previous design, it was not possible to install the Inter slip-on mandrel. With the new design, the reproducer support can be manually adjusted in order to have the reproducer at the right height for the format of the cylinder you want to play. So if the phonograph is setup for the standard format and you want to play an Inter cylinder, you have to rise the reproducer support, install the slip-on mandrel then adjust the height of the reproducer support... (as far as I understand given that I don't have the Green one!).

Probably, Pathé did recycle some blue Menestrel parts when introducing the Inter cylinders adapters as, from time to time, such machines are on sale on eBay or other sites.
Just for information, another Pathé phonograph (distributed by Girard &co) was called Menestrel. It was just a copy of « Le Gaulois » which was a copy of the Edison Gem…

Hope will help

[VintageTechnologies]

If only looks counted, that is THE machine! A friend of mine has the green model. Despite the extravagant cosmetic appearance, the motor is about the most pathetic thing I've seen - an Edison Gem motor looks better by comparison. It barely played through a regular cylinder, so I wonder how well it would play a Salon cylinder?

[Victrolacollector]

If only looks counted, that is THE machine! A friend of mine has the green model. Despite the extravagant cosmetic appearance, the motor is about the most pathetic thing I've seen - an Edison Gem motor looks better by comparison. It barely played through a regular cylinder, so I wonder how well it would play a Salon cylinder?

PATHEtic LOL

[VintageTechnologies]

If only looks counted, that is THE machine! A friend of mine has the green model. Despite the extravagant cosmetic appearance, the motor is about the most pathetic thing I've seen - an Edison Gem motor looks better by comparison. It barely played through a regular cylinder, so I wonder how well it would play a Salon cylinder?

PATHEtic LOL

Touché! Why didn't I think of that?