Pathe Actuelle "Sheraton" model

[pughphonos]

Hi all. For years (as long as I can remember) my folks had an odd bureau upstairs. It is horizontal, with three doors. When I emptied their house recently I got to thinking: was that an old phonograph cabinet that had been repurposed? Sure enough: I spotted the filled-in crank hole on the right side. When I stripped off several layers of paint from the right-side lid (another odd feature for a bureau) I found what I expected: a phonograph decal. PATHE!

I've not been able to find anything on-line about the 1920s horizontal Pathes. I don't have a photo to share right now, as the cabinet is still back in my home town. But hope to snap one in the months ahead. IN the meanwhile, I hope there are some Pathe enthusiasts on this site. I'm an Edison and Victrola man, but this cabinet is tempting me take on ONE LAST brand. All best --
Ralph

[pughphonos]

Hi all, it's been awhile, but I've had much success of late in learning more about the Pathe Actuelle. Since I last posted in July 8 I successfully searched e-bay for a FUNCTIONAL Pathé Actuelle "Sheraton" model (lowboy/horizontal). I've had it for only a day and am weighing it against my Victor Granada (4-4) Orthophonic. On the Orthophonic side it can't be denied that the Orthophonic has a brighter, louder sound and somewhat more resonance. But that resonance can easily give way to "blast." Whereas the Pathé Actuelle has almost as much detail but NEVER produces any harsh sounds; everything is always remarkably balanced.

So, it's a case of gain something, lose something when choosing between the two.

What might take the Pathé Actuelle over the finish line in becoming my main machine is how it sounds with Edison Diamond Discs. I can't test that as yet as I don't have the right stylus. Anyone have any suggestions as to where I can find the Edison (and Pathé, for that matter) styli for the Actuelle? Another question: are they different than the various vertical styli that were made for the earlier (pre-Actuelle) Pathé machines?

Final comment. I am very, very impressed with the Pathé Actuelle "Sheraton" double-spring motor. My machine has probably not been run for around 40 years--maybe more--and once I cranked it up (the spring had run totally down) she has been keeping speed remarkably well, with NO bumps/thuds from old grease deposits. Seems to crank more smoothly and unwind more smoothly than any Victor motor or Edison motors I have dealt with thus far.

Ralph

[pughphonos]

Hi all,

This weekend I got my Pathé Actuelle (Sheraton model) up to full speed with all three kinds of styli (steel needles for vertical records; sapphire-typed for Pathé verticals; diamond-tipped for Edison Diamond Discs). I am also the owner of a 1926 Victor orthophonic phonograph (a "Granada) and an Edison Sheraton Diamond Disc player with an Edisonic reproducer. I can now make direct comparisons to see how the Pathé Actuelle cone measures up.

Someone on another Pathé thread (a few months back on the "Talking Machine Forum") gave his opinion that the Pathé Actuelle would not hold up against the Victor orthophonics or an Edison disc player. I find that he was right. The Pathé cone does produce a nice, mellow tone, and for some electrics and acoustical disks it produces a pleasing result. But it can't be denied that the result is rather one-dimensional and flat, whereas the Victor orthophonics (and Edison disc players in playing their own records)break out the various instruments/voices much better and clearer.

Still, the Actuelle is an interesting part of the phonographic story and I'm pleased to have one. Its motor is a dream (cranks so easily and runs so smoothly) and its start/stop mechanisms quite ingenious.

OK, I've had my say about the Pathe Actuelle--the good, the bad, and the ugly. Not surprising that there's not been a lot of interest shown here in Edison land--even though the Pathe Actuelle CAN play Diamond Discs.