The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I got some needles from a set obviously owned by someone in the record store business at one point. Too many not to be and still banded in sets.
In one package this little odd needle fell out. It appears to be glass tipped. I am not familiar with it. Pathé comes to mind but haven't a clue. Its slightly warped in the shaft and seems to be a vinyl or bakelite type shaft? Anyone know what this is?

Larry

It is a Pathé point in an Ivory (later Ivorine) shank. These were Pathé's answer to the soft tone needle, and work very well indeed on
grainy sapphire ball pressings.

Thanks for the information. I knew it looked something like a Pathé needle but the shaft threw me being used to the metal ones. Would this tip be glass? Hopefully its then an unused version which would be cool. I have Pathé records I play on my brunswick now an then, will have to give it a try.

Larry

I believe it is a sapphire (white), as it looks identical to the sapphire in my (albeit traditional) Pathé metal shank.