Could this be a Pathéphone nr.4?

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Baro Bromberger
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Could this be a Pathéphone nr.4?

Post by Baro Bromberger »

Hi, I recently got this horn gramophone, on the round metal plaque it says Pathéphone n⁰.4 (according to google translate). The bracket and box seem quite similar if not identical to other no.4s ive seen. The motor has been replaced for one out of a portable at some point, the platter also is from a different one, I think. It's missing the tone arm and soundbox.
So I guess really the question is: was this once a n⁰.4.
Thanks in advance
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Steve
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Re: Could this be a Pathéphone nr.4?

Post by Steve »

The case is from an Eastern European No. 4 but the horn and elbow are sadly nothing to do with it either.

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drh
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Re: Could this be a Pathéphone nr.4?

Post by drh »

In the second photo, that little bracket affixed to the motorboard is almost certainly part of a fold-down tonearm rest. The moveable arm that actually supports the tonearm is missing.

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kropton
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Re: Could this be a Pathéphone nr.4?

Post by kropton »

Horn is absolutely original, as is the elbow !
My Polish Pathé 6 has an identical horn and elbow. For the eastern market, the horn, elbow and boxes were changed.
In the case in question, everything is original except the motor, which comes from a soviet copy of the HMV suitcase gramophone.

The attached photos of two machines prove their originality, and there are many Russian catalogs showing this type of horns and elbows.
of course, this one presented here is in critical condition.
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kropton
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Re: Could this be a Pathéphone nr.4?

Post by kropton »

Here is an example of the use of this type of horn and elbow in Tsarist-era gramophones made by the Pathé company. They were found throughout the Russian Empire.
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Steve
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Re: Could this be a Pathéphone nr.4?

Post by Steve »

The horn is riveted to the elbow in the original post; that cannot be right. None of the examples shown have that type of connection. Pathé machines usually have a screw in type connection.

I appreciate that in Eastern Europe they might have used a cheaper horn that was readily available there rather than the expense of exporting the more common type to all territories so thanks for pointing that out!
Last edited by Steve on Wed Jul 02, 2025 3:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

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kropton
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Re: Could this be a Pathéphone nr.4?

Post by kropton »

It is riveted because it was damaged, most likely the threaded insert that was soldered fell out and it was repaired this way.
the elbow is original but the connection has been repaired

The question was whether the horn and elbow were original.
The answer is YES, but everything is badly damaged...

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Baro Bromberger
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Re: Could this be a Pathéphone nr.4?

Post by Baro Bromberger »

Wow, thanks everybody! The close resemblance to your Polish one would make sense, as I bought it from a clearout of a late XIX century tennament house in Poland. Also there seems to be a sticker with a checkup date, so maybe that's when it was repaired. How much could it be worth more or less? I'm thinking if it's worth restoring maybe. I bought it for 145zł (about $35) so I'm guessing the parts needed might cost more than it's worth

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Re: Could this be a Pathéphone nr.4?

Post by kropton »

Pm sent

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Re: Could this be a Pathéphone nr.4?

Post by CarlosV »

Baro Bromberger wrote: Wed Jul 02, 2025 6:29 am I'm thinking if it's worth restoring maybe. I bought it for 145zł (about $35) so I'm guessing the parts needed might cost more than it's worth
Procuring motor, turntable, arm and soundbox will cost significantly more than you paid for it (assuming that the original motor is the same utilized on the corresponding French model). The French nr 4 is not a rare model by any means, so it probably would be a better option to look for a complete French machine. The reason to restore such machine would be to keep a rarer model made for the Eastern European market, but that is offset by the fact that it is almost identical to the French counterpart.

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