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Pathé motor parts needed
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 11:47 am
by drh
My Pathé Concert 20 is undergoing motor work, and my restorer tells me two parts are heavily worn and ideally should be replaced if the machine is to stand up to regular use in the future. Here are what he says I need:
A new arbor for the shaft that goes in the middle of the spring barrel
A complete top casting with the speed controls
I know it's a long shot, but if anybody here has these parts or knows where I could get them, I'd be grateful for a heads up. I'm attaching a photo of the motor. Thanks for your attention or guidance!
Re: Pathé motor parts needed
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 5:06 pm
by JerryVan
What is actually wrong with "the top casting with speed controls"? Does that casting show in your photo?
Re: Pathé motor parts needed
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2025 11:18 pm
by drh
I think he means that top plate with the winding gear, speed control shaft, etc. appended to it. From what he told me, it's heavily worn and will get worse with use. I know he had to put a tensioner on the speed control mechanism to stop it from wobbling.
Re: Pathé motor parts needed
Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 3:32 pm
by Sidewinder
It will probably be easier to find a similar complete motor as a replacement rather than the individual spares.
Also - I have lost the place where you posted a link to Brett discussing making a liner for the horn elbow because of the pot metal. He also pointed to where a crack was forming.
Very clever move, as this is exactly where the horn support breaks. Mine had a repair after the fact - you can see how unfit for purpose the pot metal is.
Re: Pathé motor parts needed
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 5:46 am
by CarlosV
drh wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 11:47 am
My Pathé Concert 20 is undergoing motor work, and my restorer tells me two parts are heavily worn and ideally should be replaced if the machine is to stand up to regular use in the future. Here are what he says I need:
A new arbor for the shaft that goes in the middle of the spring barrel
A complete top casting with the speed controls
I know it's a long shot, but if anybody here has these parts or knows where I could get them, I'd be grateful for a heads up. I'm attaching a photo of the motor. Thanks for your attention or guidance!
I suggest you contact Jalal Aro, of the Phonogalerie and museum in Paris, he may have a replacement motor. It will not be cheap though, this is not a common motor. As Sidewinder mentioned, it is certainly better to get a complete motor replacement - replacing Pathé motor parts is very tricky and will not guarantee better performance (based on my own experience). Brett's assessment may be biased by his own experience in repairing Victors, Edisons or HMVS, with standardized parts and product lines, and consistency of production over time. Pathé is a bird of a different feather: as you know, their production varies wildly over a single product line, and there is no consistency at all. Jalal also sells bubble back replacements - but before asking him, take your pills and be prepared for a sticker shock. My take on your Concert 20 is that it is worth spending money to fix these shortcomings, it is a very rare and beautiful machine, certainly a centerpiece of any collection.
Re: Pathé motor parts needed
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2025 8:43 pm
by drh
CarlosV wrote: Fri Jun 13, 2025 5:46 am
drh wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 11:47 am
My Pathé Concert 20 is undergoing motor work, and my restorer tells me two parts are heavily worn and ideally should be replaced if the machine is to stand up to regular use in the future. Here are what he says I need:
A new arbor for the shaft that goes in the middle of the spring barrel
A complete top casting with the speed controls
I know it's a long shot, but if anybody here has these parts or knows where I could get them, I'd be grateful for a heads up. I'm attaching a photo of the motor. Thanks for your attention or guidance!
I suggest you contact Jalal Aro, of the Phonogalerie and museum in Paris, he may have a replacement motor. It will not be cheap though, this is not a common motor. As Sidewinder mentioned, it is certainly better to get a complete motor replacement - replacing Pathé motor parts is very tricky and will not guarantee better performance (based on my own experience). Brett's assessment may be biased by his own experience in repairing Victors, Edisons or HMVS, with standardized parts and product lines, and consistency of production over time. Pathé is a bird of a different feather: as you know, their production varies wildly over a single product line, and there is no consistency at all. Jalal also sells bubble back replacements - but before asking him, take your pills and be prepared for a sticker shock. My take on your Concert 20 is that it is worth spending money to fix these shortcomings, it is a very rare and beautiful machine, certainly a centerpiece of any collection.
Thank you for the good advice! I'll give him a try.