Pathephonic Model 125 - Info Needed

[HisMastersVoice]

I'm looking for some information on a recent family inheritance, a Pathephonic Model 125. I can't seem to find any info on them. It appears to be Pathé's version of the Orthophonic, judging by the name and the design of the reproducer. Does anyone have any literature, ads, manuals, etc? Any help/information on this machine would be greatly appreciated!

[estott]

From what I've found on the web, by the time this was made the American branch of Pathé had been sold to a company in Wisconsin.

"PLYMOUTH RADIO & PHONOGRAPH CO.

One of the most important manufacturing industries in Plymouth is that of the Plymouth Radio & Phonograph company, which started in business in 1919, in the building originally occupied by the veneer company and later Mr. KADE.

The company specializes in manufacturing and selling the Plymouth Super-single radio set and the Pathephonic phonograph. The former is a seven-tube, single dial control radio set, which, by reason of its simple construction and superior workmanship, produces excellent results and has given general satisfaction to all purchasers. The Pathephonic is an unusual instrument, the company holding its own patent of special devices which make this equal to any high class phonograph on the market.

The officers of the company are as follows:

President and general manager - W. H. THOMMEN
Vice-president - H. W. BOLENS
Secretary-Treasurer - F. D. McINTYRE"

The company story is at this link starting on page 8 http://www.warci.org/WARCI%20Newsletters/jul10.pdf The company boasted an All Wood Horn "Up to 9 feet in length"

[HisMastersVoice]

Thanks, Eric.

You mentioned that the building was occupied by Kade. I have a desk made by C. F. Kade Fixture & Showcase Co. PLYMOUTH. WISCONSIN. If I understand correctly, this phonograph would have been made in the same facility as my desk? Very interesting!

I imagine that it would be hard to find parts for this machine, or perhaps they used the standard off-brand components? The reproducer needs a rebuild, but I'm afraid if I broke the pot metal, I would't be able to find a replacement.

CF Kade Desk.jpg (53.41 KiB) Viewed 3211 times

[brianu]

nice desk.

and that's an interesting phonograph - I've seen other pathephonic machines before, but they've been a good deal larger, closer in size to a victor credenza. have you opened yours up? I'd be curious whether it's just a straight horn inside.

regarding the reproducer, is it marked Pathé at all? unless you're entirely sure of what you're doing, you might want to have someone like walt sommers take care of it for you, just to be on the safe side - because you're correct, finding replacement components for something like this will be a challenge.

[estott]

I suspect that it used a generic Orthophonic clone, like an Audak.

[Damfino59]

This thread has caused me to dig out my copy of "Pathé Records & Phonographs in America, 1914-1922" by George Copeland & Roland Dethlefson. Page 146 is a re-print from The Talking Machine World, Oct 15, 1926 announcing the four new Pathephonic models.

Model 125 Price $125.00

Size: 41 ½" high, 21 ½ inches wide, 21 ½ inches deep.

Mahogany or Walnut highlighted with curly Maple overlay; Nickleplated trimmings.

78" Solid Wood Amplifying chamber, double-spring motor.

I wonder if that is a Thorens reproducer?

[James]

The reproducer of the Pathéphone Model 125, seem to be the same as the reproducer including the part of the tonearm shown in my AM CASANDRE/32 poster. This 39 ½ by 26 ½ inches French poster advertize the electrically recorded Pathé records.

Jim

Sorry, I am unable to upload attachment, I used to, I do not know why it does not work.

[Uncle Vanya]

No, you are mistaken, I'm afraid. The reproducer on the Cassadre poster has adjustable point pivots, rather than the spring steel pivot o the Pathephonic. The reproducer in the poster appears to be a Pathé branded variant of the HMV Model 23 Sound Box which was a Columbia derived design, adopted after the 1931 formation of Electrical and Musical Industries in 1931. By this time, Pathé was a operated by Columbia, and its machines were derived from Columbia designs.

The Pathephonic reproducer was apparently derived form an Artophone design, made by Prime Mfg, of Wisconsin under many different names and with many different front plates. this style reproducer has been seen labeled as "Cecilian", "Audak Single Phase Ultra", "Edison", "Birch", "Echo-Tone", "Pal", "Player-Tone", "Pathephonic", "Rishell", "Saxophonic" and "Meteor".

[James]

No, you are mistaken, I'm afraid. The reproducer on the Cassadre poster has adjustable point pivots, rather than the spring steel pivot o the Pathephonic. The reproducer in the poster appears to be a Pathé branded variant of the HMV Model 23 Sound Box which was a Columbia derived design, adopted after the 1931 formation of Electrical and Musical Industries in 1931. By this time, Pathé was a operated by Columbia, and its machines were derived from Columbia designs.

The Pathephonic reproducer was apparently derived form an Artophone design, made by Prime Mfg, of Wisconsin under many different names and with many different front plates. this style reproducer has been seen labeled as "Cecilian", "Audak Single Phase Ultra", "Edison", "Birch", "Echo-Tone", "Pal", "Player-Tone", "Pathephonic", "Rishell", "Saxophonic" and "Meteor".

Thank, Uncle Vanya for the information, it is very informative.

Jim