The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Thank you Vintage Tech. I've already done so and hope to have the cleaning & lubing done tomorrow.

Do you have any idea what model it might be or how old it is? Surprisingly, there's no data plate of any kind on it.

Thank you.

The arm goes to the right of the record, not the left, as you face the machine. And as displayed the reproducer is set up to play vertical cut records like vertical Pathés, not a lateral cut record like the Victor you have on the turntable. I can't tell from the pictures whether the arm on your machine is designed for the reproducer to swivel around to a position parallel with the record groves to play lateral cut records or not. I suspect not, and if that is the case you'd need to get an adopter to play lateral cut records on this machine.

The reproducer needs repair. In addition to gasket replacement and acquiring a proper sapphire stylus being needed, the rod that runs from the center of the diaphragm to the needle assembly is bent and distorted.

Clay

If this reproducer is adjustable there should be a thumbscrew behind the head. If the pot metal has not swollen then you should be able to rotate it after loosening the thumbscrew. Use the appropriate needle or stylus as needed.

Thank you for the info on the reproducer, the pic I posted was just as the seller had it (non-working). I'm currently sourcing new springs for the Heinemann P5001 and a rebuild kit for the reproducer.

But can you help speculate how old it is? Clearly it's a (factory modified) Actuelle cabinet, but how old is it? Why isn't there a serial number plate, or ANY other identifying info on it, other than "Pathé" on the lid and reproducer?

Thank you.

if this is the machine that was for sale through craigslist near Philadelphia, I considered it myself but was concerned about the extra drill holes for the crank...

my understanding is that Pathé reused some of the actuelle cabinets like this one at a certain point to instead produce simpler machines with a standard tonearm/reproducer and internal horn, like this one now has. but wouldn't they have just retained the same motors used for the actuelle? if so, why would there be extra drill holes... and if not, wouldn't they have taken more care with the cosmetics?

donniej wrote:Thank you for the info on the reproducer, the pic I posted was just as the seller had it (non-working). I'm currently sourcing new springs for the Heinemann P5001 and a rebuild kit for the reproducer.

But can you help speculate how old it is? Clearly it's a (factory modified) Actuelle cabinet, but how old is it? Why isn't there a serial number plate, or ANY other identifying info on it, other than "Pathé" on the lid and reproducer?

Thank you.

I'm curious about one thing: some of these modified machines were made from Actuelle machines that had the arm support and other fittings removed & the volume control door on the left sealed shut. Others seem to have been made from unused and unfitted cabinets. What sort is this?

brianu wrote:if this is the machine that was for sale through craigslist near Philadelphia, I considered it myself but was concerned about the extra drill holes for the crank...

Yes, that's the machine. I don't know what you mean about "extra drill holes for the crank". Which holes are you referring to?

estott wrote: I'm curious about one thing: some of these modified machines were made from Actuelle machines that had the arm support and other fittings removed & the volume control door on the left sealed shut. Others seem to have been made from unused and unfitted cabinets. What sort is this?

This cabinet was clearly built with an internal horn and two opening doors, to control volume. All this appears to be original construction and not later modifications. I say this because the stain and finish is identical throughput the machine.

One thing I noticed right off is that the horn is much better design than many Pathé machines I have run across. Most of them had a rather tiny and crude wood horn. This one looks more like a take off on the Brunswick oval horns. I would guess it produces considerably better sound?

Larry

Probably mid to late -1920's.

Good luck with it !

Good job on your purchase, you got a great buy, glad a member got it.

The Actuellé cabinet in Oak is the Model H and in Mahogany it's the Model J.

I'm reposting the article below that another member previously posted: