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Help with a Pathé machine

Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2025 4:48 pm
by NottsGuy
Hi folks,
Could anyone enlighten me about this Pathé machine?
I am by no means a Pathé connoisseur but to me it seems rather unusual because the soundbox angle seems to be meant to play the vertically recorded discs (which means that it should be using a sapphire ball stylus), and yet next to the tonearm there are two cups (one for new needles and the other for the used ones) as is usually the case with the machines that are meant to play the laterally recorded discs. To me it seams quite unusual. Any ideas why is it so? And what Pathé model this machine could be?
(I haven't received it yet, so the images I have are quite limited.)
Many thanks!
Guy

Re: Help with a Pathé machine

Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2025 5:32 pm
by Orchorsol
To play lateral discs you loosen the little screw behind the soundbox and rotate it to the conventional position.
Yes, the position shown in your photo is for vertical discs and will ruin lateral ones.

Re: Help with a Pathé machine

Posted: Sat Sep 13, 2025 5:37 pm
by NottsGuy
Thank you, that makes sense!
Any idea when this Pathé was made and what model could it be?

Re: Help with a Pathé machine

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2025 7:03 am
by Curt A
Also, it is not necessary to have a specially designated needle cup for a sapphire stylus...

Re: Help with a Pathé machine

Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2025 10:42 am
by NottsGuy
Curt A wrote: Sun Sep 14, 2025 7:03 am Also, it is not necessary to have a specially designated needle cup for a sapphire stylus...
Indeed -and this is why I found the existence of these needle cups strange in first place!
But now I understand why, as this is a "universal" tonearm that can be used in two different positions with either a sapphire stylus or a needle.