Pathé Model 100 Tone Arm

[randymullx]

Does anyone have some photos of the tone arm for a Path'e (New York) Model 100? I think I have some pieces missing. This was my very first talking machine and it has waited about 55 years to be restored so I think it's about time. My maternal grandmother lived in a very small town in Georgia and one the few entertaining things to do was an auction that was held every other Friday night. They auctioned off lots of "junk" including a few antiques. One Friday night while my family was visiting, my Mom and grandmother decided to go to the auction and I went along. I was about 10 or 12 and had a few dollars so Mom allowed me to bid on the talking machine and I won with a $5 bid. From what I recall, it sat at my grandmother's home for several months until we could figure out a way to get it home. Since then, it has been in my Mom's living room. As you might guess, the motor didn't work but as kids, we could get it to play by manually spinning the platter. It didn't get treated well so the Concert reproducer is badly damaged along with an off-brand reproducer that was included. There also appear to be some parts of the tone arm missing. I have the motor issue resolved and would like to get the tone arm and reproducer as close as possible to the original and some photos would be a huge help.

[Curt A]

As you said..."Some photos would help..." Please post some photos of what you are dealing with...

[randymullx]

Unfortunately, this is the only photo I have or am likely to have for some time due to travel restrictions. To make matter worse, this was taken after the motor was removed.

[52089]

I have a tonearm and reproducer that will probably work with your machine but - and this is the big "but" - I do not have the base for the tonearm. The Pathé tonearm of this era was mounted to a base using a clip, but the bases were made of pot metal and most of them have separated from their bases. I myself have a Model III with a separated tonearm and it doesn't affect anything really. If the tonearm I have would fit in your base, it should work for you. Even if it doesn't I can definitely help you with the reproducer. Just PM me to discuss further.

Kevin

[pathe]

This This is a Pathé 100 that I have had for many years it actually was my 1st machine this is what the tone arm looks like that you need try George Vollema

[drh]

My, the Model 100 seems to be an unexpectedly popular choice for a "first machine"--it was mine, too. Here are some photos of the playing compartment. Your tonearm appears to be a replacement somebody stuck on it along the line--presumably because of pot metal issues with the original. Good luck with the restoration!

[Edit] By the way, in case it isn't evident from the photos, when not playing the tonearm should not rotate down far enough to let the stylus touch the motorboard; instead, the stylus should just hang there in mid-air. And yes, mine was dubiously refinished at the time that I got it.

You know about Pathé records and the special stylus needed to play them, right? If not, suffice it to say they are vertical cut, like Edison discs (i.e., the groove modulation goes up and down, not side to side like a standard lateral "78"). The reproducer on your arm is set to play the more conventional "lateral" type. To play a Pathé disc, you need a "sapphire ball" stylus, a large-diameter semi-permanent point mounted in a brass shank that slips into the reproducer like a steel needle but needn't be changed for each play. Playing a Pathé sapphire type disc with a steel needle will destroy it. If that's not clear, just ask; the forum has a world of information on the subject.