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I noticed a Pathé Concert Automatique (the tall external-horn coin-op European floor model) on ebay recently and it just didn't look right - a photo is attached. I own two of these machines and have seen several others, many of which had minor cosmetic variations BUT the cranks/crank holes have always been on the right side of the cabinet, the horn/tonearm support brackets have always been mounted to the rear and none have had brakes... there is no need for a brake (mounted on the motor board by the turntable) because the coin-op feature is designed to activate the motor with the drop of a coin, and then automatically "shut it off" a few minutes later. On the contrary, the one on ebay has a brake, the support bracket is mounted on the side of the cabinet and the crank protrudes from the front... there also appear to be three filled holes on the right side of the cabinet. At any rate, I just wanted to confirm that I'm not crazy, that this isn't some odd variation, because the seller, a dealer in Texas, insists that everything is correct and that many versions of this machine have cranks coming out the front.

Thanks.

Can you get better pictures?

Garret

Garret wrote:Can you get better pictures?

Garret

The photos aren’t too good, there are more on the eBay listing...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 4099979894

All versions I have seen of a Concert Automatique (which was not made by Pathé, but by a manufacturer in a suburb of Paris) utilized the same coin-op mechanism and consequently no manual brake. This one shown was probably modified and had its coin-op motor replaced with a standard one. Hard to say without looking in detail. The lateral mount of the arm is also odd. I would stay away from it - and the price is completely out of whack. You can import one from France to the US for 10 times less than what he is asking.

Not crazy. Buyer beware.

Many websites attribute this make/style to "Pathé". Seems to be a common error - but perpetuates the misconception.

I think there were at least 3 companies making very similar machines

Le Concert Automatique français / 71, rue des Tribunes / Versailles-Porchefontaine
Le Vairiphon / G. Capy / 3 rue 11 November / Viares
and another who's name escapes me at the moment but starting with R & ending in phone, with slightly more artistic legs

Otherwise all very similar.

This one has potential....but!

condition of the horn is wanting. Price is way off for what it is, and for 6 grand, at least better photo's of the outside & inside, & maybe the penny will drop.

As a general point to misconceptions: a zonophone blue label sells for a few hundred $ and people see this and think their records are worth a few hundred each just because its a record. Likewise with prices. 1 outlyer auction with astronomical prices and people go mental. "Oh but I saw that a similar machine with a horn sold for $10000"

All versions that I have seen in pictures have the tambour door in front, the horn, tonearm and back bracket mounted on the rear and are made to play the 20" Pathé Concert records...

Curt A wrote:All versions that I have seen in pictures have the tambour door in front, the horn, tonearm and back bracket mounted on the rear and are made to play the 20" Pathé Concert records...

and the crank on the side, right? thanks.

Sidewinder wrote:Many websites attribute this make/style to "Pathé". Seems to be a common error - but perpetuates the misconception.

I think there were at least 3 companies making very similar machines

Le Concert Automatique français / 71, rue des Tribunes / Versailles-Porchefontaine
Le Vairiphon / G. Capy / 3 rue 11 November / Viares
and another who's name escapes me at the moment but starting with R & ending in phone, with slightly more artistic legs

Otherwise all very similar.

This one has potential....but!

condition of the horn is wanting. Price is way off for what it is, and for 6 grand, at least better photo's of the outside & inside, & maybe the penny will drop.

As a general point to misconceptions: a zonophone blue label sells for a few hundred $ and people see this and think their records are worth a few hundred each just because its a record. Likewise with prices. 1 outlyer auction with astronomical prices and people go mental. "Oh but I saw that a similar machine with a horn sold for $10000"

The two that I own are marked "Le Concert Automatique." I profess to being guilty of perpetuating that misconception, regarding the Pathé misidentification, which I've done in part because one of my machines, and others that I have seen, make use of a Pathé branded Concert reproducer.

So from what you're saying, "Le Concert Automatique" would be the name of both the model as well as the manufacturing company as well? And did the three companies you refer to make any other models, or just these similar looking upright external horn coin-ops?

brianu wrote:
The two that I own are marked "Le Concert Automatique." I profess to being guilty of perpetuating that misconception, regarding the Pathé misidentification, which I've done in part because one of my machines, and others that I have seen, make use of a Pathé branded Concert reproducer.

So from what you're saying, "Le Concert Automatique" would be the name of both the model as well as the manufacturing company as well? And did the three companies you refer to make any other models, or just these similar looking upright external horn coin-ops?

Please see the two photos below to clarify your questions: the machine has its own branded reproducer, although the Pathé can be fitted.

The other photo shows the tag on my machine, indicating the address of the distributor.