The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi everyone,

I recently got a 19-teens Pathé diffusor with a sapphire stylus. I just bought an diamond stylus for it. Can I play Edison diamond discs with this now? If not, what other records (other than Pathé) can I play with this diamond Pathé stylus?

Thank you!

Hello! The pathé stylus does not play Edison records, its radius is much larger than than used on Edison records. There are several other brands of records besides Pathé that were vertically recorded with the same specifications as Pathé, mostly French labels. Some US-made early records can be played with pathé needles, but they are not commonly found, like Okeh or Vocalion. By the way, Pathé stylus are made of sapphire, not diamond.

Thank you for the info. The stylus I bought (off eBay) was listed as a Pathé diamond stylus. My diffusor currently has a sapphire stylus, if I swap out the sapphire stylus for diamond, what other records can I play with it that the sapphire stylus cannot? Thank you!

I did a test a few weeks ago trying to play an Edison Diamond Disc on my Pathé with a sapphire stylus and it did actually work. I used a disc that was in very poor shape as I wasn't certain if the Pathé Stylus would damage the Diamond Disc. I know Pathé advertised that you could play "all brands" of discs on their machines and sometimes specifically mentioned Edison, Victor and Columbia (the later two requiring a regular steel needle).

KCW wrote:... if I swap out the sapphire stylus for diamond, what other records can I play with it that the sapphire stylus cannot? Thank you!

It's not about the material, sapphire versus diamond, it's about the shape. The Pathé requires a ball shaped stylus. The diameter of the ball is such that with your naked eye, you can see that it's a ball. Edison Diamond Discs require what appears to the naked eye, to be a stylus with a sharp point, (it's not sharp of course, but the tiny tip radius is nearly invisible to the naked eye . Mine anyway...)

So, if both your stylii are ball shaped, then both are meant to play only Pathé discs.

The stylus I purchased on eBay was specifically listed as a Pathé diamond stylus. It seems to me that Pathé made interchangeable styli for the phonographs. What would be the purpose of having sapphire versus diamond styli? I was assuming I would be able to play different records if I changed the stylus. The item description stated:

“For playing Diamond Discs on a Pathé or any phonograph designed to play hill-and-dale records.”

I’m assuming diamond discs are ok - but will give it a shot and let you know.

I am assuming you have purchased one of the various diamond styli that can be used on a Pathé machine. These are conical points, not the rounded sapphire ball that is used to play Pathé verticals. Yes, you can use this to play Diamond Discs, at least in theory. That is what it was specifically created for. In practice, however, I do not recommend doing this. I have had 2 or 3 of these diamond points and I have yet to find one that does not mark the records from the very first play. I don't know whether the tips are not well made or perhaps they chip easily. In any case, when you try this stylus, do it on a Diamond Disc that you will not feel bad about losing.

You can also test the stylus on the blank runout area of the disc before putting it in the grooves. If you see it is marking the disc, I suggest you do not use it.

Thank you everyone for your replies! I love the idea of trying the diamond stylus in the blank part of a less desirable Edison disc. I will try this and post a response. Thank you again!

So what type of stylus is needed to play one of the US made vertical records from that period (Rex, Vocalion, etc.)? Do they work with the typical Pathé sapphire stylus?

randymullx wrote:So what type of stylus is needed to play one of the US made vertical records from that period (Rex, Vocalion, etc.)? Do they work with the typical Pathé sapphire stylus?

most can be played with normal steel needles.