[78-L] 14" Pathes.

Spats spats47 at ntlworld.com
Thu Jan 6 13:04:28 PST 2011


Hi!

As far as I remember, I think that Pathe recorded on to a master 
cylinder and made copies using a pantograph. So, there were no metal 
parts to wear out.

They made records from 8" up to 20", but the recording was identical.
The larger ones, as I remember, were supposed to be louder.

So, though I have a dozen or so of these monsters, mostly operatics, 
I try to get smaller pressings.
I don't have the space!

I must have 200-300 Pathe discs...or more..

14" Pathes are usually centre start with, of-course, a vertical groove.
Default playing speed is 90rpm but, as with everyone else, speeds do vary.

Earl.


I have it in 3 versions: this American 14",  a 14" inside-start, 
engraved-label pressed in Belgium, and a smaller
inside-start engraved label - all the same recording, as far as my 
ears can tell.  I would guess the recording was 1912 or
before. The beauty of the Pathe system was that they could engrave 
almost any size, speed or form from the same master
cylinders.  Which raises a question:  Does anyone know if they made 
metal copies of the masters, and then 'dubbed' from
those?  Edison was doing that, prior to Gold-Moulded days.  Pathe 
issued some old recordings in Actuelle (lateral) form, so
the masters must have lasted for many dubs.


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