The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Buck wrote:Thanks for the replies. Here are 3 examples of the records I'm talking about. The Brunswick, I'm playing with a steel needle. The Edison is the thick record. Not sure what to play it with. The Pathé, (oops, I got it upside down) I assume uses the Pathé needle but I haven't tried it yet. Any info on the approximate year this unit was made would be appreciated. I'm guessing early 20's because the horn is oval with no square corners.
Thanks, Buck.

The Brunswick record is a regular lateral-cut "78" played with a steel needle.

The Edison and Pathé records are both vertical cut and therefore the position of your Ultona head must be adjusted accordingly. Once you've done that, the Pathé record plays with a Pathé ball stylus. The Edison record requires a separate diamond point stylus which you probably don't have, and from experience, you don't want either; they eat up records very quickly.

Also note that Pathé eventually switched to issuing the regular lateral "78" records, which say "Actuelle" on the label. You would play these the same way you play the Brunswick record you have.

Happy collecting!