The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've gotten my Mag-Ni-Phone into better shape. The reproducer still needs an overhaul, I'll pick up the parts at Wayne next month. It had at least two arm styles- this one comes apart to convert it to vertical cut position, on the other style you just turned the reproducer.

Neat little machine!

George P.

Nice machine. It's looking good. Is the crank original to the machine? It looks like a female crank. Is it slotted or threaded?
Harvey Kravitz

Phonofreak wrote:Nice machine. It's looking good. Is the crank original to the machine? It looks like a female crank. Is it slotted or threaded?
Harvey Kravitz

I'm certain the crank is original, it is female and threaded.

Looks great! Interesting little machine.

Andreas

I just brought one of these home,it is a neat machine indeed.

So if I understand correctly, the screw that holds the needle in place should have a sapphire in it?
The one I have is missing this screw.
Have you had the platter off yet? Mine of course is seized in place and I'm not quit sure if it should pop off or not.

Mr Grumpy wrote:I just brought one of these home,it is a neat machine indeed.

So if I understand correctly, the screw that holds the needle in place should have a sapphire in it?
The one I have is missing this screw.
Have you had the platter off yet? Mine of course is seized in place and I'm not quit sure if it should pop off or not.

If your arm is the same as mine and comes apart in the middle, yes the needle screw should have a raised center with a sapphire in it. I might replace mine as a curiosity, but it isn't strictly necessary- there are better machines to play Pathé discs on.

The turntable should just lift off- the spindle on mine is tapered with no pins or screws. If it is seized put some oil down the hole, or possibly some solvent, then tap gently on the spindle with a piece of wood as you lift the turntable.

In the center of the screw is the broken off stub of the sapphire- click the picture and it will enlarge

Definitely a weird, but clever, way to play Pathé records... If you replace it with a diamond, it should play Edison DD's.

Curt A wrote:Definitely a weird, but clever, way to play Pathé records... If you replace it with a diamond, it should play Edison DD's.

Yes, but I wouldn't. In any case, while this is a nice interesting machine I wouldn't use it to play records of any value- there's considerable friction at the base of the arm, and because of this and other sloppy constriction features the arm will wear records.