Pathé Actuelle: Pros and Cons

[drh]

See photos below with the options to click circled in blue.

First open the attachments tab.

Then click "add files."

The last folder from which you selected files will come up. From there, you can navigate your computer's folder structure until you get to the one containing the picture or pictures you want to upload to the forum.

You can select multiple pictures to upload at once or upload one at a time, clicking "add files" each time. Note that if you want them to appear in a particular order, you must upload in the order last to first. You'll be given an option to place them inline or at the end of the posting; default is at the end.

I hope that helps!

[Paul M]

Here am I in Germany taking posession of my Actuelle

[Paul M]

A few photos, hastily up-loaded showing the electrics. I wonder if it had an autostop, and if so what am I missing?

[jamiegramo]

Hi Paul,

Thank you for posting some pictures. Did you power the machine up yet? You will need a transformer from 220v to 110v. I assume Germany is 50 Hertz or Cycles so the turntable may run too slow but there is a speed adjustment so you may get round this.

The machine appears to have an auto stop.

Jamie

[Inigo]

Very nice and interesting beast, have a nice time and enjoy it!
You could post a video when you have it running at home...

[pianolist]

I have a model H and have no problems playing Pathé records on it. The sound is Ok. I’m not expecting the results I do from my Credenza. As long as the machine is perfectly level it tracks the record well. I discovered there are at least two slightly different model H machines. I can play the very large inside start discs on mine, they just fit. I have a friend with an H that looks the same but the lid prop is different and blocks him from being able to play the large discs. I only occasionally play an actually Actuelle disc on it but it performs well enough. The motor is a bit small and must be wound every playing. I recently got an Edison stylus for it but haven’t had a chance to try it. Until I read the owners manual I didn’t know it had that capability

[Paul M]

Hi Pianolist, I am loving my Actuelle. The sound is truly brighter and more "present" than my horn models. My Model H will NOT accommodate 35cm (14") discs, even with the transmission tube holder and lid-stay removed, so mystery solved. I wonder does anyone here have an electric model to compare?

Hi Inigo the Actuelle plays well. I am toying with making a new and tidy-looking speaker cone, but the old original one, torn and repaired as it is sounds so LOUD and GOOD I probably won't bother. Anyone reading this can find videos of the machine and others on my facebook page Paul Morris, Exeter. I'll probably try to put some hhttps://www.facebook.com/100001265075904/videos ... _=*bH-Rere as well.

[drh]

...I can play the very large inside start discs on mine, they just fit. I have a friend with an H that looks the same but the lid prop is different and blocks him from being able to play the large discs. ... The motor is a bit small and must be wound every playing. ...

Very interesting info, pertinent to some things I've wondered. By "very large" you mean the 14" ones? I'd assume the 16" and 20" ones wouldn't fit either model, but I'd wondered about the 14" size. One member here once said they wouldn't fit his, but from what you say that's not the case for every Actuelle. Underpowered Pathé motors have been a bugaboo of mine for a long time; I had a diffusor (my "avatar" photo machine) that sometimes needed touchup windings to play even one side, which is why I eventually splurged on a big open horn "Concert" model and sold the diffusor. I also had a Pathé 0 cylinder machine that was not exactly a powerhouse, either. Now the big machine is having motor issues, too. It has a very strong spring, but it's not getting up to speed for the center start records, much less for the 120 RPM 20" jobs. I'm having it serviced in hopes of getting it going faster. Meanwhile I'm camping out on a No. 100 upright, my very first spring phono, which has been with me for about a half century now. It's capable of playing the 14" records, and its motor will run for something over two 11.25" sides but not quite three on a winding.

By the way, not all the 14" discs are center start; Pathé did release outside start, paper label 14" discs. I have some of them.

Turning to the sound of paper cone playback, my diffusor, which embodied a less sophisticated implementation of the same idea, varied. Sometimes it sounded absolutely wonderful; sometimes it distinctly didn't. I came to the conclusion that atmospheric humidity strongly affected its performance, and I'd guess the same would be true of the Actuelles.

I put together a video of World War I songs on YouTube, comparing records played on various competing machines, that includes one played on the diffusor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFuzYAZwz2E That segment starts at 7:10.

[Paul M]

Hi folks, these links may well take you to some more videos of my Actuelle. Still experimenting with this site, but enjoying the friendly comments!



https://www.facebook.com/10000126507590 ... Kjhttps://

www.facebook.com/100001265075904/videos ... Wewhttps:/

/www.facebook.com/100001265075904/videos ... tn__=*bH-R

[Paul M]

many thanks for all the additional info and links.