Pathé Actuelle: Pros and Cons

[Cody K]

This morning's "least favorite machine" thread seems to have spun out into a discussion of Pathé Actuelle machines. There hasn't been an Actuelle thread in quite awhile, so here's one.

Ralph and Brandon give the Actuelle thumbs down. Others defend it. Maybe others still will come in with their opinions of this often-underappreciated and somewhat scarce beast?

My opinion, expressed in the other thread, is that the Actuelle does have its limitations, but when well-tuned will perform quite admirably. Ralph has said that one of the reasons he doesn't care for it is excessive record wear, but I don't see that with mine, at least not using the standard "black dust" test, which is of course not conclusive. It seems to me that wear might be caused by improper adjustment of the tone bar, which is balanced by sliding backward or forward in its holder.

I haven't got a sapphire stylus for my machine, and probably only one or two Pathé vertical records, so I'm not really qualified to speak to issues of tracking on those. But I think that issue, which I've seen mentioned elsewhere as well, is probably again due to improper balance of the tone bar, which can track too lightly if too much weight is distributed in the direction of the cone. Playing laterals, which do track differently of course, I've never had a problem with skittering.

The one problem that I do have with my machine is that there's a slight buzz when a record hits certain notes; but I don't fault the machine for that -- it's just an adjustment I've been too scared to attempt because I've never found documentation that describes how to fix it. John M has cautioned in previous threads that the rod within the sound bar is extremely fragile, and I'm reluctant to take the thing apart without knowing exactly what I'm doing first, for fear of damaging it.

As far as the sound that my Actuelle produces, I like it very much, though it is relatively shallow on the bass end -- which is the nature of the beast, depending as it does on a simple paper cone rather than a horn that has the ability to develop the lower end. And again, as the machine I'm most likely to play during late night hours, using a soft-tone needle, I think it can sound very good indeed, especially given the way a soft-tone needle will limit range on any machine of any kind.

So, what do other Actuelle owners consider the strong and weak points of their machines?

[HisMastersVoice]

My issue with the Actuelle is mostly the thin, oddly distributed sound, but I had other problems as well. I generally play my records on the machine they are correct for. For example. Victor scrolls get played on the 8-35, early single sided discs on the Victor III, etc. The Actuelle was of course my machine for playing Pathé discs on. For the standard edge start discs, it was adequate with only minor tracking issues. Center-start discs, however....forget it! Being that the majority of my Pathé collection focuses on french center-start records, that was a bit of a problem. I tried everything from leveling the machine every which way, cleaning/oiling the pivot, adding weight to the tonearm, yet it would still repeat grooves or skate across the record with so much as a glance in its general direction. Once I traded it for the Pathéphone No. 2, all of the 8" discs I was ready to toss in the rubbish bin played perfectly on it without skipping once.

[Cody K]

I'm completely with you on the idea of playing records on age-appropriate machines, to the extent that when I occasionally break out of that habit I almost feel like I'm doing something naughty! Now, I have exactly zero experience with center-start records, so I'm almost completely ignorant about them. Honest question: were they still being made by 1919, when the Actuelle was introduced? And can they be played without trouble on non-Pathé machines, say, a Victrola? I'm actually quite curious about them.

Regarding the Actuelle's distribution of sound, once again that's something that's going to depend on the listener, but I find it less directional and more room-filling than many, if not most horned machines (and that was something that Pathé emphasized in advertising the Actuelle), so to me that's kind of a plus. On the other hand, I have no doubt that your Pathéphone, for values of brightness or volume, would do a much better job than the Actuelle, and I can see why you might prefer it.

Incidentally, I do find that needle-cut Pathé discs do sound better on the Actuelle than on any of my Victrolas or my one Columbia machine, which is a 1911 Favorite, but I don't think that's surprising, because there's everything to be said for "matching" technologies, much as VEs will sound much better on the Orthophonic players they were designed for.

[HisMastersVoice]

Now, I have exactly zero experience with center-start records, so I'm almost completely ignorant about them. Honest question: were they still being made by 1919, when the Actuelle was introduced? And can they be played without trouble on non-Pathé machines, say, a Victrola? I'm actually quite curious about them.

I believe they switched over to the standard edge start discs around 1915. I don't believe they were readily available outside of Europe and the UK. The center start discs, like any other Pathé record (excluding needle cut) were vertically cut, so they must be played with a sapphire stylus. The Actuelle, in theory, should be able to play them, but I was never fortunate enough to get good results. There are some adapters that were made to allow other phonographs, like Victor, to play Pathé records, but those don't work that great with center-starts either. You really need a Pathéphone if you want to avoid frustration with them.

[VintageTechnologies]

Now, I have exactly zero experience with center-start records, so I'm almost completely ignorant about them. Honest question: were they still being made by 1919, when the Actuelle was introduced? And can they be played without trouble on non-Pathé machines, say, a Victrola? I'm actually quite curious about them.

I believe they switched over to the standard edge start discs around 1915. I don't believe they were readily available outside of Europe and the UK. The center start discs, like any other Pathé record (excluding needle cut) were vertically cut, so they must be played with a sapphire stylus. The Actuelle, in theory, should be able to play them, but I was never fortunate enough to get good results. There are some adapters that were made to allow other phonographs, like Victor, to play Pathé records, but those don't work that great with center-starts either. You really need a Pathéphone if you want to avoid frustration with them.

I agree with all you said except the last sentence! Yes, you will reduce the tracking frustration with a genuine Pathéphone, but not completely eliminate it. Those little 8" records are particularly prone to skipping near the center, due sometimes to the shallowness of the cut, and due sometimes to wear, or both. The larger records simply track better.

[HisMastersVoice]

I agree with all you said except the last sentence! Yes, you will reduce the tracking frustration with a genuine Pathéphone, but not completely eliminate it. Those little 8" records are particularly prone to skipping near the center, due sometimes to the shallowness of the cut, and due sometimes to wear, or both. The larger records simply track better.

Agreed, the 8" records are the most troublesome, and had the most problems with those on the Actuelle. I only had problems with one of them playing correctly on the Pathéphone, but I suspect it may be damaged.

[Paul M]

Hi ALL! Very keen to correspond with anyone owning an Actuelle - especially an electric model like mine since I have a few questions. Thanks for any interest

[Paul M]

Just reading some of the posts here - and some old ones at that! Would love to send some photos, but the web site is not clear to me, HOWEVER, there is no problem playing any of the discs Pathé's made (that fit) on an Actuelle, even the small 1906-10 ones and even the ones with the tiny start groove. You need a good, clean stylus, and one that is not too big. There were a variety of sizes made, it seems. The machine (like all sapphire players, must be level - but you know that) If anyone is wanting to dump their old centre starts, throw them in MY direction!

Kind regards,

Paul M.

[CarlosV]

Just reading some of the posts here - and some old ones at that! Would love to send some photos, but the web site is not clear to me, HOWEVER, there is no problem playing any of the discs Pathé's made (that fit) on an Actuelle, even the small 1906-10 ones and even the ones with the tiny start groove. You need a good, clean stylus, and one that is not too big. There were a variety of sizes made, it seems. The machine (like all sapphire players, must be level - but you know that) If anyone is wanting to dump their old centre starts, throw them in MY direction!

For sending photos, it is simple, there is an attachment tab under the texting area when you make a new post, just upload the photo there.

Concerning the Actuelle, I have two, but both are mechanical. They are great machines to play vertical Pathé records, well designed, the cone diaphragm works very well with a nice sound, and the various means to control the loudness, with front and side doors, are a nice feature. The auto brake is a unique design, nice to see working although not the most practical device to set. Its mechanical motor is also very good - a Motor of Quality brand - silent and powerful, much better than the contemporary French Pathé motors that are normally quite noisy. I never encountered issues of skidding over the record found in some of the French Pathé machines. I never played standard horizontal records on it, though, as I utilize other machines that were specifically designed for them.

[Paul M]

no tab I can see. Why can't they make it obvious. I'll stick to gears and diaphragms!