The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I would not be surprised if that is a unique custom machine made for Pathé, rather than by them. A number of phonograph companies offered Art models in their catalogs for the sake of prestige. Costing $1,000 or more, who but a millionaire could afford such machines? Perhaps a few were built for showrooms. It would be quite a story to know how an American Pathé ended up in Norway of all places.

Sadly, most American Pathé cabinets are plain and ugly as dirt, so this is quite a revelation. I wonder who designed and built the motor? It is unlike anything I've seen.

PS - I find that reading the fine print in that Talking Machine World ad seems to answer some questions. Only a few Art models were built and were displayed in New York City.

Top of the line Meisselbach motor, built in the year before Heineman's General Phonograph Co. purchased the Meisselbach company.

I've seen them in a really fine Fletcher (In a quite elaborate inlaid Sheraton console cabinet)and in at least a couple of other machines.

The motor is American, the cabinet may be American, but the tone arm appears to be European. By the time thsat this machine was introduced, American Pathé was using their universal tone arm.

Several companies made special model art cased machines in very limited numbers for wealthy customers. But they are rare to find on the current market by and large. Not many were made to begin with and fewer still survive.

Clay

Yes, you can use the room behind the left door for record storage.