Pathé Actuelle Reproducer

[Nick Charles]

Pathé Actuelle records are lateral cut, but can you play them with replacing the sapphire stylus with a metal one in an Actuelle reproducer without changing its mounting? I've perused the forum and not found a direct answer to this. If I missed it, please excuse the redundancy. Thanks all.

[Phototone]

Pathé Actuelle records are lateral cut, but can you play them with replacing the sapphire stylus with a metal one in an Actuelle reproducer without changing its mounting? I've perused the forum and not found a direct answer to this. If I missed it, please excuse the redundancy. Thanks all.

I think all later model Pathé machines would play all types records with different styli (needle) and rotating the sound box. If a machine is set up just to play the vertical cut (hill and dale) Pathé records you can't just replace the needle, you have to re-orient the sound box. Some models you could rotate the sound box, others you could exchange the sound box. The paper-cone Actuelle models allowed you to rotate a ring behind the needle to set it up for either vertical or lateral playback.

[Nick Charles]

That's exactly what I thought, but I wanted affirmation as I recently read some contradictory information. Thank you for your help.

[startgroove]

If you are referring to the Pathé that is an Actuelle, there is no reproducer on that model, at least not in the conventional sense. However, what Phototone says is correct. The Actuelle pick-up can be rotated 90 degrees and the needle traded, in order to go back and forth between lateral and hill & dale records.

In the photo below, you can see the two positions marked on the ring surrounding the cone diaphragm.

[Victrolacollector]

I have never seen a actuelle in person, How do they sound? Do they sound as good as a Orthophonic.

I have a Polly Portable, is the principle about the same?

[Nick Charles]

What I was originally referring to was a Model XII Pathé with a 'standard' reproducer rotated to play a lateral-cut Actuelle record. On my machine, with a rebuilt reproducer, the sound is fair, but I would say not up to Orthophonic standards. Used in a conventional sense for playing vertically-cut Pathé records, the sound is quite good, but not having an Orthophonic to play next to it, I cannot say which I would prefer. Hopefully, someone will respond who knows a side-by-side comparison.

[PeterF]

The Actuelle sounds really quite good, although probably not as good as a properly tuned/restored big orthophonic machine. The Actuelle will be limited in bass response by the small size of the cone, plus I don't believe there were ever any electrically-recorded Pathé vertical records, which would also provide better sound quality. Finally, the original cones are often found torn or distorted, and stiff from the years - so replacing the cone helps quite a bit.

The li'l Polly does indeed work on the same principle, as do all the cone speakers we have used over our lifetimes.

You can search YouTube for any number of examples of Actuelles playing, but here is mine playing the super cool Pathé Demonstration Record:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtzr7lqhoCM



[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtzr7lqhoCM[/youtubehd]

A similar approach by Pathé was their "Diffusor." Same paper cone technology, executed with a pivoting or linear tracking configuration. Here is my little linear-tracking model:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ5HKcNTflY

[youtubehd]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ5HKcNTflY[/youtubehd]

[startgroove]

I've played Victor Orthophonic records on our Actuelle and am very pleased with how it sounds. The lower notes come through quite nice and, to me, it sounds about as good as our Victor Credenza. The lower notes seem to come through better when the lid is closed on the Actuelle.

I've also tried other early electric recordings. Most sound great, but some of the Columbia recordings sound not so good, compared to other Columbias and to the Victor Orthophonics.