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I need some help from folks that are familiar with Pathé machines. Attached is a picture a gentleman sent to me of his "Pathé Olotonal" phono. He's wanting to get some information on the machine and have me fix a broken spring. The brass tag on front says "Olotonal-- Pathé".

All I can find online are suitcase portables that are labeled Olotonal. Is this machine legit-- or a Frankenphone? Right now this is the only picture I have, but can have him send me more if needed. I'm real stupid when it comes to European machines. I'd appreciate some help.

Thanks!

Brad Abell

I see little if anything of Pathé origin on this machine. The brass tag is almost certainly an addition taken from another machine.

"Olotonal" was a name coined by Pathé in the late 1920's for a new range of machines designed to compete with Brunswick's "Panatrope", Columbia's "Viva-Tonal", Decca's "Audioscopic", Victor's "Orthophonic" etc. Techno-babble is nothing new. A fine "Olotonal" cabinet machine is pictured in Fabrizio and Paul's "A world of antique phonographs" page 210, fig.5-49.

I agree. The Pathé Olotonal range came out at a time when horned machines were considered very old-fashioned. The "Olotonal" name signified a whole new concept in sound reproduction (supposedly). I don't think the above machine falls into that category!

Here's an example of an Olotonal portable:

Here are additional photos of the machine--- I'm thinking Frankenphone, but would appreciate confirmation--or refutation.. (Is that a word?) Has anyone seen a case like this one???

Thanks All-

Brad Abell

It's a frankenphone, but that shouldn't stop you from fixing it for the guy. Shouldn't be hard to measure and replace the broken spring, no matter what the brand. Honestly, if he likes the thing and isn't a collector, don't delve into the frankenphone thing. Might hurt his feelings. The exception might be if he's thinking it has big value, so you might want to gently explain.

Aside from the added plate it all looks like a genuine cheap machine.

PeterF wrote:It's a frankenphone, but that shouldn't stop you from fixing it for the guy. Shouldn't be hard to measure and replace the broken spring, no matter what the brand. Honestly, if he likes the thing and isn't a collector, don't delve into the frankenphone thing. Might hurt his feelings. The exception might be if he's thinking it has big value, so you might want to gently explain.

Yes, just because it's a Frankenphone doesn't mean it isn't worth repairing and enjoying. A friend of mine who also collects gramophones has one and honestly, the thing plays records better than some mid-to-high-end Victor and Columbia machines!

A couple more photos of the horn-- I appreciate the comments so far. Looking for a consensus on what this machine actually may be.

Thanks All-

Brad Abell

I think it is a legitimate machine with a tag added for pizzazz. I don't see extra holes and other give away clues. It is definitely not a Pathé nor it's origin. I'm thinking a German or Swiss machine of that type.
Harvey Kravitz

The horn looks like a typical European product from the 1910s.

The tonearm..... I'm not quite so sure.

Bill