The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

m0xiemama wrote:Here's the inside. Guys says it plays just fine they just don't have the room for it. We shall see tomorrow. Cross your fingers for me.

It has the lateral adapter, the rare part. No Pathé reproducer, but those may be had pretty easily.

Uncle Vanya, is there a specific one I should look for or are they all the same? Also, did you know all the information about this model off the top of your head or is there a good reference book I should be looking at?

Ron Dethlefson published a book about American Pathé, but it's out of print, I believe.

I've owned most of the early Amercan Pathé machines at one time or another. The oak machine (a model 100 or 125, as I recall) is very nice. Well built. The next model up, the mahogany model 150 is even more impressive, with round corner columns running from the feet to the top of the lid.

Ron Dethlefson published a book about American Pathé, but it's out of print, I believe.

I've owned most of the early Amercan Pathé machines at one time or another. The oak machine (a model 100 or 125, as I recall) is very nice. Well built. The next model up, the mahogany model 150 is even more impressive, with round corner columns running from the feet to the top of the lid.

The reproducer that you need is the Pathé' Concert Reoroducermade of aluminum, about three inches in diameter, it is marked "Reproducteur pour Disques Pathé'". It has a rubber tube with a nickle plated brass collar sticking out of the back. Thay may often be found in their original storage boxes, left over "Salon" size cylinder cases.

The Pathé disk reproducer evolved over time, so I am not certain which is the proper model for that particular machine. The body of European Pathé disk reproducers was made from some non-metallic material such as hard rubber. I prefer them because they weigh less than the metallic models and are less apt to bog down the motor while playing a worn record. The stylus bar went through several revisions. I have also seen some variations in the length of the rubber tube that connects to the tone arm. The ideal length would allow the stylus to pass over the center of the record, but it is not really that critical.

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VintageTechnologies wrote:The Pathé disk reproducer evolved over time, so I am not certain which is the proper model for that particular machine.

Ah, but I am, having owned clean examples of most of the machines in this early American series.

VintageTechnologies wrote:The body of European Pathé disk reproducers was made from some non-metallic material such as hard rubber. I prefer them because they weigh less than the metallic models and are less apt to bog down the motor while playing a worn record. The stylus bar went through several revisions. I have also seen some variations in the length of the rubber tube that connects to the tone arm. The ideal length would allow the stylus to pass over the center of the record, but it is not really that critical.

You make a good point. The Model 25 and 35 table grands used a small reproducer, light weight, with a diaphragm the size of that of a Victrola No.2. I suspect that this lighter reproducer was used because of the indifferent quality of the imported "pillar and plate" motors on these machines. I've never seen the gutta-perchea reproducers on any American machine. I suspect that they would have been entirely unnecessary, as the wax coated discs had long been superceded by the much louder and more durable shellac records by 1914.

The large machines, which were fitted with heavy, three-spring Columbia motors, all initially used the large aluminum "Pathé Concert" reproducer, imported from France. This is the aluminum reproducer with the "Brevite..." wording cast in the reverse side. A little later these machines used a American made reproducer, which had a smooth back, and was cast of a heavier zinc alloy, which reproducer was somewhat louder than the aluminum "Pathé Concert".

I did buy it. The sound is great. Quite loud. The case is in great condition. It is a model 100 as Uncle Vanya suspected. I cleaned it lightly and it looks lovely. I found a concert reproducer on ebay but it looks pretty rough. Are they tough to rebuild?

Congratulations to your Pathé. They are interesting machines and play quite well.
The Pathé Concert reproducers are not really difficult to rebuild, but be very carefull with the front bezel. In the newer ones it is made from pot metal and breaks easily. I used the regular white gasket material and the ring broke when trying to screw it back on, just from compressing the gaskets. To avoid that with the second one I bought, I screwed on the ring with only the rear gasket installed and then pushed the front gasket in between the ring and the mica.
The other problem is the rubber tube in the back. It is usually rock hard and should be replaced, but I have not found a suitable rubber hose material in small quantities. I really did not want to buy a 50 feet hose when I only neede 2 inches.
Oh yes, when you buy your reproducer make sure you get the one with the straight connector in the back. The newer ones have an angled connector and were used on the Pathé Actuelle machines I think.
Good luck!
Andreas

Looks like it was made for my dining room.