Pathé soundbox question

[Steve]

I recognise the fascia plate of this soundbox from around 1929 but not the stylus bar suspension (on a Pathé) or the back-plate configured with it, which seems like an earlier type to me. Also, for the needle cut era, it appears the stylus bar sapphire point is at 45 degrees to the fascia, implying it is for hillandale records.

Is this a genuine original soundbox or something cobbled together?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276602110026 ... media=COPY

[drh]

It appears to be from one of the Pathephonic machines. Here's a (poor) photo from the Copeland/Dethlefson book. Hard to tell for sure, but I *think* the stylus bar is angled there.

[Steve]

Thanks for your reply but to be honest your scan appears to show a more typical Paillard soundbox of the period (common to Decca machines amongst many manufacturers) with 90 degree lateral cut steel needle type arrangement. I'm not sure it is the same soundbox?

[CarlosV]

Steve, the one I have is similar, but not identical, see photos below. The fascia on mine is uniformly domed, while the one on eBay has a bulge in the center. Otherwise, they look the same. The one on the ad is most likely genuine, being just another Pathé variant, gold-coloured while mine has a copper finish.

[Steve]

Steve, the one I have is similar, but not identical, see photos below. The fascia on mine is uniformly domed, while the one on eBay has a bulge in the center. Otherwise, they look the same. The one on the ad is most likely genuine, being just another Pathé variant, gold-coloured while mine has a copper finish.

Okay, thank you, Carlos. So as it appears in the Ebay listing as well as your example, these do not have any pot metal parts and they do have a 45 degree stylus bar for hillandale only? I was hitherto unaware that Pathé made late era aluminium diaphragm soundboxes for hillandale records. Every day is a school day!

I had previously understood that the late soundboxes with the name "Pathé" cut out of the fascia plate, were all pot metal construction including the front, not dissimilar to the HMV No. 5?

[Inigo]

These soundboxes with 45 degree needle, mounted on a revolver tonearm as in American machines, serve to play both vertical and lateral records. The tonearm has an elbow that can be turned so the soundbox rests at as strange angle, but the needle stays vertical on the groove ready to play laterally recorded, standard 78s.
Maybe it belongs to a machine with this feature...?

[CarlosV]

These soundboxes with 45 degree needle, mounted on a revolver tonearm as in American machines, serve to play both vertical and lateral records. The tonearm has an elbow that can be turned so the soundbox rests at as strange angle, but the needle stays vertical on the groove ready to play laterally recorded, standard 78s.
Maybe it belongs to a machine with this feature...?

Here is the elbow that belongs to the soundbox. The photo is misleading, both ends - elbow and soundbox - have the same diameter, and are connected via a short rubber tube, that perished on mine, and I did not find a suitable replacement yet. As Iñigo says, it rotates to allow both types of records.

[Steve]

These soundboxes with 45 degree needle, mounted on a revolver tonearm as in American machines, serve to play both vertical and lateral records. The tonearm has an elbow that can be turned so the soundbox rests at as strange angle, but the needle stays vertical on the groove ready to play laterally recorded, standard 78s.
Maybe it belongs to a machine with this feature...?

Here is the elbow that belongs to the soundbox. The photo is misleading, both ends - elbow and soundbox - have the same diameter, and are connected via a short rubber tube, that perished on mine, and I did not find a suitable replacement yet. As Iñigo says, it rotates to allow both types of records.

Thank you Inigo and Carlos. So, apart from being stupendously overpriced, the Ebay example is missing the elbow piece? Or should that be part of the tonearm? The seller doesn't ship to UK anyway so this is purely academic interest now for me and future reference.

[CarlosV]

Thank you Inigo and Carlos. So, apart from being stupendously overpriced, the Ebay example is missing the elbow piece? Or should that be part of the tonearm? The seller doesn't ship to UK anyway so this is purely academic interest now for me and future reference.

Steve, the elbow should be part of the soundbox, as the rubber connector is glued (or pressed) at both ends. Mine was hardened and cracked, and had to scrape both sides to remove the rubber.

[jamiegramo]

These soundboxes with 45 degree needle, mounted on a revolver tonearm as in American machines, serve to play both vertical and lateral records. The tonearm has an elbow that can be turned so the soundbox rests at as strange angle, but the needle stays vertical on the groove ready to play laterally recorded, standard 78s.
Maybe it belongs to a machine with this feature...?

The soundbox must look very strange when playing standard 78s!