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Since the 70's I am using ball pen tip to play Pathé records, though I have original sapphires.. I choose the smallest diameter tip. Take all the ink, and if it is short, extent it with a soft tone needle to the hallow centre and trim it to the desired length. Insert it will so it wouldn't come off. It work nicely, and I do not notice any record wear

Jim

Why not use a sapphire if you have them available?

Yes,I've heard about using ball point tips to play Pathé'sapphire ball discs.My friend Arthur Par'e used to do this when he'd play them on his Kimball console phonograph.One time he played a Pathé using a sapphire ball and it disintegrated.So,it's good to use ball points on some records.edisonplayer

edisonplayer wrote:Yes,I've heard about using ball point tips to play Pathé'sapphire ball discs.My friend Arthur Par'e used to do this when he'd play them on his Kimball console phonograph.One time he played a Pathé using a sapphire ball and it disintegrated.So,it's good to use ball points on some records.edisonplayer

If the sapphire destroyed the record, then the sapphire was probably damaged. I would never play any of my Pathé records with a ballpoint pen, personally. They were made to be played with a sapphire, why take the chance?

HisMastersVoice wrote:

edisonplayer wrote:Yes,I've heard about using ball point tips to play Pathé'sapphire ball discs.My friend Arthur Par'e used to do this when he'd play them on his Kimball console phonograph.One time he played a Pathé using a sapphire ball and it disintegrated.So,it's good to use ball points on some records.edisonplayer

If the sapphire destroyed the record, then the sapphire was probably damaged. I would never play any of my Pathé records with a ballpoint pen, personally. They were made to be played with a sapphire, why take the chance?

So do not use it.I do not advocate or telling people to use ball point pen, I had been using it since 1970, my experience I did not encounter any problem. If you are doubtful don't use it. My two cents.

Years ago, before the internet days, a collector I knew mentioned this to me and at the time I didn't have any sapphires but I had a pile of Pathés I really wanted to hear. I tired many different point sizes and made sure there was no ink left in them. I must have made 20 different ones trying different things and every single one of them left visible damage on the record the first time it was used. I seriously would not try doing this if you value your records when for less than $40 these days you can buy a nice correct sapphire point.

Sean

OrthoSean wrote:Years ago, before the internet days, a collector I knew mentioned this to me and at the time I didn't have any sapphires but I had a pile of Pathés I really wanted to hear. I tired many different point sizes and made sure there was no ink left in them. I must have made 20 different ones trying different things and every single one of them left visible damage on the record the first time it was used. I seriously would not try doing this if you value your records when for less than $40 these days you can buy a nice correct sapphire point.

Sean

Can you recommend a good source of sapphire styli? I'm doing a rebuild on a Pathé reproducer and have decided that the original stylus has to go.

Ron Sitko did have them for about $30 each, I'd check with him first 518-371-8549. I bought a few of them and they're very nice!

Sean

OrthoSean wrote:Ron Sitko did have them for about $30 each, I'd check with him first 518-371-8549. I bought a few of them and they're very nice!

Sean

Many thanks, Sean.