Antique Pathephone Nº 12 Gramophone -Phonograph. 2 Reproducers. France, 1910-1915

Extraordinary antique French Pathephone Nº 12 gramophone or phonograph with 2 reproducers, made in France between 1910 and 1915 and with all its original component parts. This superb gramophone is a Great Luxury model, one of the most expensive and valuable pieces ever produced by the firm. It is in wonderful working order and sounds great with both reproducers. One of them is a Pathé Concert model with sapphire needle, and the other is a standard one with steel needle. The first reproducer is designed to play 90-rpm Pathé sapphire records and the second one includes an adapter which makes it possible to use the gramophone to play standard 78-rpm records. The gramophone box is a real work of art, made by hand and with an impressive joinery and carving work. It is composed of different mahogany wooden pieces, disposed in a diamond pattern and with embossed side panels. The top and the base are decorated with hand-carved floral fringes. One of the sides bears a riveted bone-colored plate with the name of the original distributor in Paris. On the other hand, the side with the crank mounts a fine brass device to select the reproduction speed. The arm, reproducer and horn set is connected to the box by a silvery-metal elbow with embossed decoration. Last but not least, the horn is a rare model which was bought apart. The mouth is 23.62 inches width, while the standard one is just 19,68. It is a metal morning glory horn, with the original light-blue enameled finish in fine condition. This amazing antique French Pathephone Nº 12 gramophone with two reproducers is an exclusive piece which deserves to become part of the collection of a music museum. Dimensions: Box: Side: 16.14 in / 41 cm. Height: 8.46 in / 21.5 cm. Horn: Length from Elbow to Mouth: 33.66 in / 85.5 cm. Horns Length: 28.35 in / 72 cm. Mouths Width: 23.62 in / 60 cm.Pathé Fréres - HistoryThe company was founded as Société Pathé Frères in Paris, France in 1896, by the four brothers Charles, Émile, Théophile and Jacques Pathé. During the first part of the 20th century, Pathé became the largest film equipment and production company in the world, as well as a major producer of phonograph records. Charles Pathé had helped open a gramophone shop in 1894 and established a phonograph factory at Chatou. Having decided to expand the record business to include film equipment, the company expanded dramatically. To finance its growth, the company took the name Compagnie Générale des Établissements Pathé Frères Phonographes & Cinématographes. In 1902, Pathé acquired the Lumière brothers' patents; by 1909, they had built more than 200 movie theaters in France and Belgium. By the following year they had facilities in Madrid, Moscow, Rome and New York City plus Australia and Japan. Prior to the outbreak of World War I, Pathé dominated Europe's market in motion picture cameras and projectors.