@victrolaman i think it works like the ones that go inside out are 90 rpm and the later ones that go outside in are 80rpm, but the 20 inch pathe records are 120-130rpm
Spot on! Yes you are correct. The correct 'stylus' to play these Pathe discs is actually a sapphire with a 'ball' end. To be honest I have played this with a steel needle at least 150 times. Quite out of order I know but it still seems to play ok. Thanks for your comment.
Maybe they made these records play from the center outward because with the record spinning, there would be a natural force of the needle and soundbox outward too? So this way maybe they didn't have to give the tonearm an inward slant, like some Victrolas do to assure the needle drops into the first groove and also pushes it slightly towards the center as the record plays. Just another guess. Not sure a good ad slogan would be 'our records sound crummy at the start instead of the end!' : )
@frenchmarky You are correct. That format had a very wide and shallow groove. The "center start" aided tracking because the reproducer worked with, instead of against, the centrifugal force. Pathe made excellent discs that were pantographically transcribed from "concert" sized wax cylinders. That way, the groove always ended 1/4" from the outer edge. The machines, however, were very poor. The Brunswick Ultona, on Pathe setting, was much better. Ultona's even had the correct sapphire ball.
These etched-label, centre-start Pathés were made in France from 1906 to 1915 and were designed to be played with a sapphire needle. I have only one Pathé vertical, but it is of the later matte label, outside start type that plays at 80 RPM while your type, whether 24cm or 35cm, play at c.95 RPM (varies from record to record; the extremely rare 50cm play at c.125 RPM).
I have some aluminum records, cut in a speech class, that play at 78rp and start in the center. They, however, have to contend with a modern phonograph having a cut-off mechanism to pick up & return the tone-arm back to start, when the needle has finished the last band and the end groove is reached. My phonograph cuts off power to the turn-table. You'd have to move the tone-arm slowly, lest you trigger the return mechanism.
Hello Rob, Yes it is a steel needle but I have a feeling these discs should be played with a saphire but I might be wrong. I have probably played this record more than the original owner and it does not appear to be damaged at all. I have a number of these disques. Great sound from all of them. Thanks for your comment. John.
I have just a few of these John but only to look at,or rarely a wooden needle.your sound,s are very clear,i tend to upload on light armed portable,s but if the record is worn,no way back.Again thank,s
I replaced the soundbox damping on the Pathe.The original rubbers were as hard as stone. Its incredibly loud!
Guys are often worried about playing old shellac recordings with steel needles. Thinking about it most of these records were played with very heavy sound boxes and steel needles that had almost certainly been used more than once. No real damage, the records still play very well. 78's are incredibly tough unlike vinyl that is very easily damaged if played with a bad stylus. Cheers. J..
I heard you can put them in the microwave to straighten them out.I foolishly tried this but found that the old 78,s from the1900 - 1930s were much stronger than the delicate1930,s onward,s.Leave on a warm ledge in the sun with a book on top,call back when the winter beckons.thank,s john.
I would never put a record in a microwave. Most warped records can be flattened out by simply placing them in a heavy book and leaving them sandwiched between some more heavy items. This should reverse the original conditions that caused the warp in the first place. I find it quite rare to actually discover warped records. More likely to find a cracked one. Cheers, John
I tried stacking other records on top of warped ones, but found that definitely doesn't work since the center and outer edge are thicker than the rest of the record. I'll try the book method. Yes warped records seem to be rare, I must have hundreds of records, only two are warped and will not load on my Victrola 10-50 with the record changer.
It all depends what kind of player you use. On these old gramophones with heavy tonearms and soundboxes, it doesn't matter that much if the record is a bit warped, but let's say a more modern lightweight pickup would have much more trouble tracking the discs. I've got lots of records that my Lenco L78 have some problems tracking at 78 rpm but who probably would play just fine on any old Victrola.
Hello, They have an unmistakable appearance but you can still make out the loud passages as you can with a conventional record. The quality is good for the period. I am not sure of the dates for these recordings but I would guess around 1915. Thanks for your comment. J.
i really wish i owned this record, a fantastic song on a fantastic pathe record
kirtley2010 3 months ago
Is this 90rpms? Just curious.
victrolaman 4 months ago
@victrolaman i think it works like the ones that go inside out are 90 rpm and the later ones that go outside in are 80rpm, but the 20 inch pathe records are 120-130rpm
kirtley2010 4 months ago
Beautiful recording. It's really no wonder Pathe records are still so desirable.
Karlfalcon 4 months ago
if thats a steele needle ive heard they destroy those records
emyandmatty 2 years ago
Spot on! Yes you are correct. The correct 'stylus' to play these Pathe discs is actually a sapphire with a 'ball' end. To be honest I have played this with a steel needle at least 150 times. Quite out of order I know but it still seems to play ok. Thanks for your comment.
vinylseat 2 years ago
@vinylseat be careful with that.
that can ruin the sound quality
because people dont want to listen to a somewhat destroyed original
they would have a digital copy
so make the digital copy as good as possible
vinylloung 4 months ago
Maybe they made these records play from the center outward because with the record spinning, there would be a natural force of the needle and soundbox outward too? So this way maybe they didn't have to give the tonearm an inward slant, like some Victrolas do to assure the needle drops into the first groove and also pushes it slightly towards the center as the record plays. Just another guess. Not sure a good ad slogan would be 'our records sound crummy at the start instead of the end!' : )
frenchmarky 2 years ago
@frenchmarky You are correct. That format had a very wide and shallow groove. The "center start" aided tracking because the reproducer worked with, instead of against, the centrifugal force. Pathe made excellent discs that were pantographically transcribed from "concert" sized wax cylinders. That way, the groove always ended 1/4" from the outer edge. The machines, however, were very poor. The Brunswick Ultona, on Pathe setting, was much better. Ultona's even had the correct sapphire ball.
riqzster 1 year ago
Nice record! Would love to hear more Pathe records from your collection!
Greetings, Rolf
Netherlands
otterhouse 2 years ago
These etched-label, centre-start Pathés were made in France from 1906 to 1915 and were designed to be played with a sapphire needle. I have only one Pathé vertical, but it is of the later matte label, outside start type that plays at 80 RPM while your type, whether 24cm or 35cm, play at c.95 RPM (varies from record to record; the extremely rare 50cm play at c.125 RPM).
m2esectr 2 years ago
@m2esectr I have some center-start Pathés. The ones made between 1906 and 1916. Are they worth anything?
SYN7HOR 1 year ago
@SYN7HOR Yes they are, though I don't know how much. If you want to part from them, mail me privately, but if you don't it's still fine.
m2esectr 1 year ago
I have some aluminum records, cut in a speech class, that play at 78rp and start in the center. They, however, have to contend with a modern phonograph having a cut-off mechanism to pick up & return the tone-arm back to start, when the needle has finished the last band and the end groove is reached. My phonograph cuts off power to the turn-table. You'd have to move the tone-arm slowly, lest you trigger the return mechanism.
EmmetEarwax 1 month ago
Lovely sound,is it a steel needle ?
robgems2 3 years ago
Hello Rob, Yes it is a steel needle but I have a feeling these discs should be played with a saphire but I might be wrong. I have probably played this record more than the original owner and it does not appear to be damaged at all. I have a number of these disques. Great sound from all of them. Thanks for your comment. John.
vinylseat 3 years ago
I have just a few of these John but only to look at,or rarely a wooden needle.your sound,s are very clear,i tend to upload on light armed portable,s but if the record is worn,no way back.Again thank,s
robgems2 3 years ago
I replaced the soundbox damping on the Pathe.The original rubbers were as hard as stone. Its incredibly loud!
Guys are often worried about playing old shellac recordings with steel needles. Thinking about it most of these records were played with very heavy sound boxes and steel needles that had almost certainly been used more than once. No real damage, the records still play very well. 78's are incredibly tough unlike vinyl that is very easily damaged if played with a bad stylus. Cheers. J..
vinylseat 3 years ago
I heard you can put them in the microwave to straighten them out.I foolishly tried this but found that the old 78,s from the1900 - 1930s were much stronger than the delicate1930,s onward,s.Leave on a warm ledge in the sun with a book on top,call back when the winter beckons.thank,s john.
robgems2 3 years ago
I would never put a record in a microwave. Most warped records can be flattened out by simply placing them in a heavy book and leaving them sandwiched between some more heavy items. This should reverse the original conditions that caused the warp in the first place. I find it quite rare to actually discover warped records. More likely to find a cracked one. Cheers, John
vinylseat 3 years ago
I tried stacking other records on top of warped ones, but found that definitely doesn't work since the center and outer edge are thicker than the rest of the record. I'll try the book method. Yes warped records seem to be rare, I must have hundreds of records, only two are warped and will not load on my Victrola 10-50 with the record changer.
frenchmarky 2 years ago
It all depends what kind of player you use. On these old gramophones with heavy tonearms and soundboxes, it doesn't matter that much if the record is a bit warped, but let's say a more modern lightweight pickup would have much more trouble tracking the discs. I've got lots of records that my Lenco L78 have some problems tracking at 78 rpm but who probably would play just fine on any old Victrola.
78rpmblog 1 year ago
Hello, They have an unmistakable appearance but you can still make out the loud passages as you can with a conventional record. The quality is good for the period. I am not sure of the dates for these recordings but I would guess around 1915. Thanks for your comment. J.
vinylseat 3 years ago
Superb! I would love to see a 'Pathe' disc up close, it must seem strange with grooves that are not laterally cut as you have mentioned...
tubeie07 3 years ago