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Pathé 1905 disc, 24 cm single-sided with cement top.

I would like to report that I am not the seller of this product, but I just purchased it on eBay France and I am absolutely satisfied with my purchase. Great communication, very well packed and fast
shipped. Here is the link to another "Pathé Cement" record on ebay France (by the same seller). https://www.ebay.fr/itm/224460956900

The records of the “Maison Pathé Frères” released in 1905 are very rare. Very few 'cement' discs have been put into circulation. The first discs appeared in December 1905 and were engraved on one side only, made with wax transferred to cement platters. Pathé hoped for big sales for Christmas 1905. Unfortunately, it was a failure, the records deteriorated very quickly. Customers were not satisfied and returned their records to Pathé for reimbursement. Their sales lasted less than two months ... The advertising label on the back is what makes them so charming. These records are absolutely gorgeous from an aesthetic point of view. Note that these discs were Pathé's first flat discs.

Patrick

Can't say I've ever seen one of these before.

Congratulations on finding one for a bargain price, with the recording still intact but very fragile... Don't attempt to play it or it will most likely destroy the recorded side. I have one, which is my favorite record, but the recorded side is blank...

Hi everyone,
Hello Curt,

In terms of devices, the first phonograph put on sale to read these famous records was the Pathé model A. Directly inherited from the technology of the cylinder phonograph, it was equipped with a floating horn and its diaphragm was vertically engraved.

I find on Youtube

(Double-click the video above or click this link to go to the video on YouTube.)

a demonstration of playing a Pathé A phonograph. .

Failing to be able to use a Pathé A, a collector recently told me that you can listen to this record on a electrophon, the weight of the reading head not wearing out the record. But in view of the previous demonstration on Youtube, I have some doubts.

Please note, the “cement” disc is a Pathé disc with vertical recording, that is to say that the variations of the sound are not to the left and to the right of the groove but in the background.

By the way, I wonder if it is not possible to read old discs with a laser instead of classic cells, knowing that a laser-disc can read digital information? This would avoid the problems of scratches and vinyl wear.

We could perhaps also scan the old disc, and a program "unwinds" the groove and converts it to digital. The idea is to be able to play discs with severe groove damage / wear from a bad stylus. The focus of the laser can be raised and lowered to find a depth in the groove that has minimal damage; a badly damaged disc may make it look like a new disc.

I don't have the skills to debate the subject. There are several models of devices, most of which are beyond the financial means of ordinary mortals. They are very expensive, and not targeted at consumers but libraries, archives etc. I have given you some links below which will give you excellent information on this subject.

https://www.tsf36.fr/repro.htm (of French)
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01885324/document https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_turntable
https://www.jstor.org/stable/40293942
http://irene.lbl.gov/

To finish with the subject of “Pathé cement discs”, legend has it that Pathé used the scraps of these discs to pave the entrance to the Pathé factory in Chatou (20 minutes from Paris).
Patrick

I found a musical (sound) recording on a "cement" disc. Singer: Charlus. Warning, protect your ears !!

(Double-click the video above or click this link to go to the video on YouTube.)

jean-patrick-l wrote: Mon Jul 05, 2021 11:49 am I found a musical (sound) recording on a "cement" disc. Singer: Charlus. Warning, protect your ears !!

(Double-click the video above or click this link to go to the video on YouTube.)

I have one of these fibro-cement discs, with its playing surface still in place but full of cracks. Tried to play it once, but had more or less the same result as shown on the video: a lot of noise and some faint scattered sounds. A failed experiment, but a very good-looking piece to show in a record collection.