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Can anyone tell me when Pathé started to make horizontal-modulated records? I assume this must have happened sometime around the switch to electric recording - but is there any way to tell, especially on something like an eBay auction?

Nat

Nat wrote:Can anyone tell me when Pathé started to make horizontal-modulated records? I assume this must have happened sometime around the switch to electric recording - but is there any way to tell, especially on something like an eBay auction?

Nat

They started here in America in about 1921. If you see one with Actuelle on the label, it's a lateral cut disc.

American pressings are pretty easy to tell apart
Until 1926, lateral records also carry an "0" prefix before the record number.

Pathé France started making lateral records in 1920, but only for the English/American market. It wasn't until 1926 that they started making them for their home market. Again the labels are fairly easy to tell apart, and their lateral records carry an "X" prefix before the record number.

I believe this "X" prefix system continued until 1932 when vertical records were discontinued, & a more simplified label was introduced.

Thanks! that's a great help.

I recently bought an art neuveau Pathé label, just for the label, and found it was a lateral-cut disc, to my great delight.

I appreciate your response,

Nat