The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Steve wrote:One correction here, folks.

I have an Automatique Concert Francaise and it will NOT play a 20" Pathé disc through. It's not that the motor can't handle it; the automatique can play 6 Pathé discs through on a single winding, the problem is the timer! Because they are coin operated, they work on the duration of a standard disc and cut off at a preset time, so the motor can play it but the timer won't allow it. I never figured that one out!

hey steve,

are you sure? these play at a higher speed, right, like 100 or 120 rpm? and they run for about 8 minutes, I think? my concert automatique (I believe we have the same or very similar machines) typically runs for eight minutes (to play two sides of a standard disc) before shutting off automatically (at which point you've got to drop another coin in). I have one of these 20 inch discs, but haven't tried playing it yet... I did, however, see one demonstrated on another concert automatique and it got through one whole side of the disc before shutting off. do the timers on these vary? or can they be adjusted?

Valecnik wrote:HI Calle,

Don't know if you saw the pics of my Pathéphone no.12 in the string, "How many Phonographs are in your living room?"

Here it is:
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... e&start=20

Actually I do not think mine is strong enough to play a 20" disc. Also I think the reproducer could be louder, (even though I had it rebuilt). Any suggestions on who in Europe is really good at motor and reproducer work on such a machine?

Cheers, Bruce

Hi Bruce !
Really nice picture ! I don't have the stand, but for the rest it's EXACTLY the same machine ! Also with a torsade horn !
If you want I can send a picture...
Regards !
Dimitri

Hi Dimitri,

I surely would like to see some pictures. Perhaps some others on the forum would also.

Cheers, Bruce

Dimitri wrote:I don't have the stand, but for the rest it's EXACTLY the same machine ! Also with a torsade horn ! If you want I can send a picture...

Dimitri,

I agree with Bruce; we would definitely enjoy seeing pictures of your machine.

If you have any difficulties in posting them, please feel welcome to e-mail me at [email protected] for assistance.

— MordEth

brianu wrote:I did, however, see one demonstrated on another concert automatique and it got through one whole side of the disc before shutting off. do the timers on these vary? or can they be adjusted?

Brian

That's interesting! A machine, which I think is probably a lot earlier than yours, does not play more than a single record before shutting off. Typically it will just play an 11" disc before switching off - I don't know how long that is: 4 minutes max.? It certainly wouldn't play even 2 very small discs through before shutting off. I doubt they can be adjusted without serious modification. Anyone else know?

As far as speed goes, although the bigger discs play faster, they do also last quite a lot longer and that's why they wouldn't play on my machine. You would also have to remove the arm-rest which the 20" disc would foul anyway.

Just how hard are these 20 inch records to find or is it that not many people really wants them.
Were these records all double sided or were some of the earlier records single sided
Does anyone have a time line of when these were made or does anyone have information that can tell when a certain record was made by its record number. Thanks
Kiwi

Kiwi wrote:Just how hard are these 20 inch records to find

Not difficult to "find" at all but they're expensive - VERY expensive!

Most specialist record dealers (78 type) get them from time to time but expect to pay upwards of $200.

Steve wrote:

Kiwi wrote:Just how hard are these 20 inch records to find

Not difficult to "find" at all but they're expensive - VERY expensive!

Most specialist record dealers (78 type) get them from time to time but expect to pay upwards of $200

Several years back a whole collection (about two dozen) of these was offered to me - complete with somewhat tattered record bags. I think the seller wanted around $40 each. I didn't buy it because the contents were absolutely boring!

I saw them on several occasions. Although some titles may be scarce, the type isn't.

That price is truly astonishing!

Consider that I could buy any number of about 10 discs at the moment for no more than £125 each! The Ebay record was not even interesting?