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Were these available for sale in North America? I'd very much like to have something like a No.6 and was wondering if a search on this side of the Atlantic would be futile.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe these were only sold in Europe (primarily France) which is why they are seldom seen here in the US. When they do turn up, they generally aren't cheap. After searching for a few years, I only recently found my Pathéphone No. 4. You may have a bit more luck being in Canada, and might consider getting in touch with Jean-Paul Agnard, who has had a few of these for sale in the past.

The nicer Pathephones were only sold in Europe as HMV says and the higher end ones command prices similar to wood horned Triumphs, Operas, Victors V & VI. They do turn up occaisonally in North America but not often.

Thanks, guys. Just as I thought.

You will have to be quick but might this fit the bill ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Very-rare-coi ... 485d361fcb

emgcr wrote:You will have to be quick but might this fit the bill ?

Not quite sure how "france,France" fits in North America.....???.... . Up here, we have Quebec. It's almost "like" France.... .

A Concert Automatique will likely be on the higher end of the Pathé price range, not to mention freight costs to get it over here.

gramophone78 wrote:

emgcr wrote:You will have to be quick but might this fit the bill ?

Not quite sure how "france,France" fits in North America.....???.... . Up here, we have Quebec. It's almost "like" France.... .

don't tell people over here they're "french" if you don't want to upset them...
the language difference is like british english vs. american english.

The Concert Automatique was not made by Pathé, but by a factory located in Velizy which specialized in machines for public places. Its original soundbox (which is different from the Pathé one) is for hill-and-dale discs.Its motor is also tailor-made, and it is not Pathé. I have one of these: A very robust machine and veery loud, it definitely lived up to the purpose of a machine for bars and bistros.

The Musical Treasures of Miami had up to recently some nice Pathé machines for sale in the US, you may want to contact Raphael and query. I can recommend him, having bought a large machine not so long ago, which arrived in Luxembourg in excellent shape, well crated and exactly as he described (rare quality amongst dealers).

http://www.musicaltreasuresofmiami.com/ ... erman.html

If you want a higher risk approach, you may try to buy from French Ebay, there are always many Pathé machines for sale, with the usual wide range of condition, price, seller reliability etc.

Carlos is, of course, correct to challenge the assumption that these large "cafe" machines were made by Pathé. They weren't, although the soundboxes do betray some similarities with those made by Pathé but that is about where the similarities end.

I also have one of the "Le Concert Automatique Francais" machines and it is one of my favourite machines. They play wonderfully clear and loud with excellent "holographic" sound projection from those mighty horns. The coin-operation is also a lot of fun and surprisingly slick. Looking at the eBay listing Graham provided, I note it was Philippe LeRay selling it. Philippe is a recommended dealer (and a charming and friendly gentlemen with it) who in my experience can be relied upon for packing, shipping and personal delivery of items. As Carlos has already stated, there aren't many dealers who can be relied upon but I'm happy to endorse Philippe if anyone is watching his items and worrying about any of the normal issues. Philippe is the man!

Having said that, I see this machine didn't sell! Why did it stall at 400 Euros? Are the French mean buyers? I bet I know where that machine will end up. Watch this space!

To answer the original poster's question, I don't think the majority of Pathé horn models were ever available in the US or Canada. Pathé had a US outfit that appears to have supplied the US market with models unique to that country but mainly of the table and cabinet variety.