7402View
3m 48sLenght
40Rating

Here is an original Pathe Demonstration Record "Exhibiting the superiority of tone of a Pathe Recording." I would imagine that this recording was used by Pathe Dealers across the USA when Pathe was trying to gain a foothold in the American Phonograph Market beginning in 1914. The record promotes the advantages of the permanent Sapphire ball needle used to play the Vertical Groove Pathe records and the fact that they will not rip and tear and wear your record like the Steel needle system of the Competitors. The Phonograph is a very rare Pathe Solophone Model 125 from the late 19teens. The Solophone Phonograph was mfg. by the Solophone Phonograph Company of Harrison, New Jersey (Note the face of the reproducer still says SOLOPHONE not Pathe), and was originally advertised in "Talking Machine World" in 1916. The Company was not in business very long and their remaining inventory of phonographs were probably bought up by Pathe, and The ID plates were changed and the Phonographs were then sold as a Pathe Solophone. According to "Pathe Phonographs & Records in America 1914-1922 " this is thought to be the only survivor of this model known to exist. The reproducer is also capable of playing regular lateral groove records by removing the Pathe Sapphire Ball needle and inserting a regular steel needle after adjusting the set screw and swiveling the head to the correct position for play. As far as I can see the Solophone Phonograph had only one unique feature, notice at the tone arm base, that there is a small gold lever. This moves in semi-circle back and forth and operates a rotating baffle inside the base of the Tone arm as a "Tone" or Volume control. It is the only phonograph I have come across with the rotating internal baffle.