The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi

I am new to this forum so please bear with me. Thank you too for registering me on your forum.
I am in South Africa which will mean that our time differences will cause a delay in my responses
to your posts and the inverse will also apply (approx. 9 hour time difference).

I have acquired a Pathéphone No 8 phonograph which I would like to restore. My first problem is how
do I open the box ? The winding arm seems to be preventing the lid from opening. I also cannot remove
the arm. The one alternative seems to be unscrewing the bottom of the box.

Please assist me if you can.

Regards

These winding handles (which you are referring to as "arms") are normally held in place over a spindle with a pin through the end that locates into a slotted end of the winder. I'm not sure why this one cannot be pulled out but maybe it is threaded on? Have you tried turning the handle anti-clockwise to unscrew it? You WILL need to remove the handle before the lid will open.

Send some pictures , it may be possible to undo the motor either from the top when the turntable is removed or from the bottom

Steve wrote:These winding handles (which you are referring to as "arms") are normally held in place over a spindle with a pin through the end that locates into a slotted end of the winder. I'm not sure why this one cannot be pulled out but maybe it is threaded on? Have you tried turning the handle anti-clockwise to unscrew it? You WILL need to remove the handle before the lid will open.

Do not turn it anti-clockwise. Steve is correct in saying spindle + pin. If it is an original Pathé it will not have a threaded winder. If you wait a bit I will send some photo's.

Look under the turntable if you see the bolts for holding the motor, or at the base of the cabinet of there are bolts. This will tell you where the motor is positioned. Do you have a lever at the front of the cabinet parallel to the top. This is the instant start.

If you cannot remove the turntable, may be a good time to start with penetrating oil on the spindle in the middle of the turntable.

You need to pull the winder out, and then press the button that releases a latch that holds the lid shut, as you can see from the pictures with the machine open

Got it open! Simple after all the valued advice and photos.Thank you all for your
interest.
I have managed to establish that this phono is circa 1912.What would be the best way
to clean the metal parts(not the mechanism) as well as the brass horn ie which metal alloy would have been
used in 1912?

You're doing it right RSA, i.e. asking questions before restoring. Before commenting on the horn, it would be nice to see a picture. If it's really unpainted, originally polished brass, you may want to consider leaving it as is.

Valecnik (in Central European Time zone btw)

Hi

Here are a few images:(My Mini Schnauzer could`nt resist being part of the action - sixth image below).

Hi,

you do not show a picture of the motor.......the turntable looks like it comes from a portable / suitcase type machine?

The horn originally probably was done in a Pathé style where the horn was lightly nickle plated and then washed with a type of green varnish. Looks excellent when in good condition. The horn one should leave as it is, just clean off the dirt. When new the horn would have been really stunning.

Sorry to say but neither the horn or the elbow are original Pathé parts or original to that machine. The horn looks to be a modern era reproduction that has been carefully "aged" to look the period. The elbow is a standard "continental" type. Pathé horns and elbows are quite distinctive and are not like any other manufacturers' parts. Just Google "Pathéphone horn" and you'll see what I mean. I note it has been re-motored and the turntable is from a portable. All things considered it might not be worth the time and investment to "correct" the machine overall? The No. 8 is not uncommon in France although shipping might conceivably be quite high? To be honest with you I wouldn't waste any time or money on this machine. It is almost a Frankenphone.

Finding the correct Pathé horn might not be very easy but finding any old Pathé horn should be. The same applies to the elbow but wouldn't it be better to just find an original No. 8 without replacement motor, turntable, soundbox, horn and elbow?