Pathé Sapphire record

[Edisonfan]

Here is my first Path`e sapphire record. Unfortunately, I don not have a Path`e machine to play it on.

Paul

[gramophoneshane]

Great find Paul for your first Pathé. It's a nice early jazz number & Orlando's orchestra aren't too bad either. I've only got a couple of their Edison disc recordings They recorded for Indestructible cylinders too.
Most of my Pathés are pre 1915 French/Belgium pressings, so I'd be very happy to find a copy of this myself.
You'll have to keep an eye out for one of those Pathé adaptors for Victor machines so you can give it a spin, unless you've got a modern turntable that plays 78's & you swap a couple wires over at the cartridge. Some of the Edison DD adaptors can also play both lateral & vertical recordings too.

[solophoneman]

You will also need a Pathé Sapphire Ball stylus to play the record . Here is an original Sapphire Stylus envelope that I just found inside an old reproducer box that I picked up recently. I have never seen one of these before.

[Edisonfan]

Thank you guys!

I should have said that I have a Path`e needle cut record, that I can play on my victrola.

I did not know there were Path`e adaptors? Thank you shane!

[Zeppy]

Thank you guys!

I should have said that I have a Path`e needle cut record, that I can play on my victrola.

I did not know there were Path`e adaptors? Thank you shane!

There is the Hughes Stylus that is supposed to let you play Path'e records on any regular phonograph with a triangular needle chuck. I have one, but can't say I've ever been impressed with the results.

http://images.cloud.worthpoint.com/wpim ... 40e299.jpg

[Wolfe]

you've got a modern turntable that plays 78's & you swap a couple wires over at the cartridge.

Stylus dependent, as far as how well that'll work. If you don't want to shell out for a custom stylus specifically for those discs, some other kinds of '78' styli will give passable playing results without skipping over those shallow grooves, and some won't. I think this subject has been discussed somewhere on this list already.

Another thing one can do for making electronic CD's or digital files is to slow the turntable speed down to 33 rpm, say, and then adjust the file to speed in a computer audio editor, if you've got a few Pathé discs that you want to transfer, and you can't get them to play without skipping. The slower turntable speed gives the needle an easier job to sit down in the groove all the way through. If the record is pressed even a little bit off centre, as some Pathés are, it'll throw the stylus right out of there, even with a heavy tracking force.

[Edisonfan]

Thank You Wolfe!

[De Soto Frank]

A Brunswick with with the Ultona reproducer head will also play Pathé` discs, and I dare say is a better machine mechanically...

I have a Pathé`phone VII, and have never gotten the motor to run at a consistent speed - lots of "wow".

In any case, you do need the ball-Sapphire stylus - a steel needle will destroy the record.

I have a couple of Pathé` discs similar to yours (same label), classical stuff performed by the Ackroyd Trio ( violin / cello / piano )... still haven't heard them yet... been to cheap to shell-out $50 for the stylus...

Good luck with yours !

[Swing Band Heaven]

You will also need a Pathé Sapphire Ball stylus to play the record . Here is an original Sapphire Stylus envelope that I just found inside an old reproducer box that I picked up recently. I have never seen one of these before.

I see that the packet describes it as a "Full tone" saphire stylus. Does this mean they also came in soft and medium tone to enable variation in volume? Anyone know?

S-B-H

[WDC]

I have worked with Pathé sapphire records very successfully. All I needed was a cheap stylus for the Stanton 500 I am using, like this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/STANTON-D500-AL-KYO ... 0390212577

I then disassembled the tip of a ballpoint pen. I selected a fairly large one, extracted the tiny ball with some pliers and glued it on top of the regular LP stylus. Btw. crazy glue is not strong enough, I used an epoxy that would settle within 3 minutes.

I usually play a Pathé at regular speed but with extra weight, as far as the stylus goes. 8-10 grams are very feasible. I have attached a sample, works really great.

If you want to play them at lower speed be sure that you use a linear pre-amp, not an ordinary RIAA. Or otherwise you will get problems with the frequency response curve.