The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi -

I have a number of Pathé records, but have never owned a machine. So here is my dumb question:

Do ALL Pathé disc records have to played only on a Pathé machine, or are there some that were laterally recorded and compatible with Victor machines and others?

The basic rules of thumb:

Etched label or paper label with a rooster on it = vertical cut, use only a sapphire ball on a vertically oriented reproducer

Paper label bearing the word “Actuelle” = lateral cut, use a steel needle and a conventional lateral reproducer

Note that the etched label records, which are early, are also center-start. Weird to experience but awfully fun.

The later Pathé records were made to be played with steel needles, while the earlier ones were vertical cut and needed a sapphire stylus. The earliest ones with etched labels were not only vertical cut, but center start, which means they played from the center outward - backward from normal 78s.

Center start demo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jl3i1weDZNQ

Seems like there’s an echo in here.

French lateral cut records don't have actuelle printed on the label though. I've got a whole bunch from the 30's with blue or red labels. I think there might be one or two green labels too.
I'll post a couple px when the get out of hospital during the week.

I've also got some Chinese Pathés.
The Chinese language ones are black with gold print, and Ive got Blue Hawaii by Bing Crosby on a blue label pressed in China.

It's not an echo, Peter. We were writing posts at the same time... I didn't see yours until after I finished mine. Was your comment really necessary?...

Guess I should’ve added a smiley face. It was not intended to be derisive, but perhaps that wasn’t obvious enough.

It’s good that our stories were consistent though, as I’m sure you’ll agree.

Rooster label Pathés are vertical cut, they are played with a sapphire ball stylus.

The lateral Pathés say "Actuelle" on the label. They start about 1921.

There are also etched label center start Pathés, they weren't sold in the U.S.

Okay, here are two examples:

One is marked "needle cut," and I assume an electrical recording as well, the "E". This one could be played on a Victor machine, for example, maybe an Orthophonic due to the electrical recording.

The other is marked "sapphire record," which I assume would need to be played with a sapphire ball stylus, right?