1920 Pathé Frères Diffusor Phonograph playing 1916 Pathé record "How do you do, Miss Ragtime"

This is a Sapphire Diffusor Table-Top Phonograph, made in 1920 by Pathé Frères in France. It has no reproducer, no tonearm, no horn. Instead we have a 14 inch diameter paper cone with a sapphire sphere at its apex, that is positioned directly on a Pathé disc, that has vertically cut grooves. This rare version of the diffusor phonograph has no cabinet, and thus distributes sound through the whole room, without having to open louvers, doors or a lid. The phonograph plays first the beginning of a 1903 Pathé record, that starts at its center, and then a whole 29 cm record, starting at its rim, recorded in 1916 by the pantographic process, and featuring ragtime banjoist Burt Earle playing "How do you do, Miss Ragtime?"
The phonograph is documented at www.radio-antiks.com/IndexRadi... and is for sale.

[@HMV101]

In the late 1940s an Australian manufacturer marketed, for a very brief while, a similar cone reproducer re-configured for conventional lateral-cut 78s and replaceable steel needles.

[@bobboscarato1313]

They are using a speaker cone and install a needle in place of the voice coil. Pretty interesting combo.

[@chandrajaworski1117]

QuakerBarrett, there is a man in Pennsylvania, an expert in reconing antique radio speakers named Buford Chidester, who is able to produce reproduction cones for Pathe machines at surprisingly modest cost. Hope this can help you get your machine up and running well again!

[@robgrano6814]

Not long ago I saw a console version of a Pathe player like this in an antique store. I do a fair amount of antiquing and it's the only one I've ever seen.

[@HMV101]

Thank you for this great demonstration and very interesting talk. I have had one of these Pathé machines in my modest collection for some time; now I know more about it thanks to you. Unfortunately, mine has a dent at the apex where the stylus is mounted, it seems to play okay however.

[@brotherspock8180]

Talk about your high mass tonearms, Wow!

[@nmgt1048]

an old phono from France with just a paper cone on a sapphire needle, which outlasts the steel needles found in others. It puts out plenty of sound.

[@CassetteMaster]

This is really fascinating!!

[@pcallas66]

This sounds very good.

[@kacema70]

That was a revolutionary invention! the first loudspeaker! The sound obtained makes the differrence. Better response in low frequences...

[@musicurio]

It IS an interesting machine, and to answer some of the comments expressed, there is really very little weight on the record - the diffusor diaphragm assembly is not very heavy, and the ball has much larger surface area of contact than a steel needle point, but PLEASE play the records at the right speed! Your machine was going at around 72 rpm, and the centre start disc (as it says on the jacket) should go at 90 (or thereabouts) and the paper lable one, at 80. I too love Pathe's discs, but all records need to be played at the speed at which they were intended if they are to be taken seriously.

[@neilmansfield8329]

Love this record player and record

[@indieworks]

I used to do something similar with a broken radiogram by pushing a needle into a matchbox and holding it so that it followed the grooves. Reproduction sounds very similar.

[@edmondedwards6729]

I wonder if anyone added a cover, built with an ovalish hole with a close fit to the speaker outer framing, the cover curved to follow the arc of the cone travel. If the cover was lined with sound absorbant material, some of the bass notes might show up plus this could cover some of the needle, sapphire rather...noise ...thanks for the great demo

[@SubTroppo]

Please re-do this video with no movement of the camera for the demonstration of the sound quality. Very interesting!

[@fridgemagnet]

love the font used on the manufacturers label

[@chandrajaworski1117]

Your phonograph and presentation are both beautiful! But it's not accurate to say that this machine was made "long before" the Actuelle, which was produced between 1919 and 1924. Are you quite certain your machine dates from 1920? In any case, it's a fine and rare machine; thank you for displaying it so nicely!

[@jhonwask]

I think this would play Edison Diamond Disc records very well.

[@shermansher7336]

pretty cool!!

[@TarunSharma-cc7su]

Old is gold