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The Coq in French means "rooster," the feisty bird that has been representative of France for ages. In fact, the image of the rooster is found in several places on this beautiful, pristine instrument. The polished walnut cabinet, the stunning decal., the luster of the shiny nickel plating are all dazzling, but what delivers the knock-out punch is the added feature of having an absolutely "wacky" sound delivery system appdended to it. The crazy contraption sitting atop the instrument was called "Système Vérité" (meaning true or accurate system), and it was exclusive to Pathé machines sold by the Girard mail-order firm. Girard, seeking to dintinguish the instruments it sold through bold design and marketing, devised "Système Vérité" to assure that an indelible impression of technical wizardry was left in the mind of the public -- and looking at this Coq today STILL proves the effectiveness of the plan! Yet--- HOW does the darn thing work?!
Here we can see how the Girard system of brackets, shafts and wheels took the weight of the rather long horn off the phonograph carriage, and allowed the reproducer to "float" (in order to avoid the chance of skipping of a groove). The mechanism plays 2-minute cylinder records, Edison, Columbia, etc. Despite its modest size, it runs quite successfully. The scultured inner frame has two round areas in order to rest the ebonite reproducer. When you is ready to play a record, you turn on the start lever to get the motor going. Then you engage the instrument's tracking mechanism. Finally, you lower the reproducer on to the record by hand.
Now the motor is turning, the machine is tracking, and the record is playing! To great success!
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The brilliant and inspired "Rube Goldberg" contraption can be easily accessed and played from any position. As it chugs along, it can't help but win your heart -- PLEASE REQUEST A VIDEO OF THE MACHINE PLAYING A RECORD!
Did you notice the stamped image of a rooster on the mechanical works?
Here it is again on the front of the polished walnut cabinet, original finish. The Pathé motto reads, "I sing (or play) loud and clear."
Everything is brilliantly nickel-plated!
The Girard mail-order company thought up this splashy horn, always painted in bright Chinese red. It is lightweight, yet provides extra special sound quality due to its length. It is one of the most distictrive and, frankly, visually arresting horns of the early talking machine era. We have meticulously restored this horn, beginning with a fatally damaged body but a salavageable bell, we completed it with exact historical accuracy.
Back in the day, instruments such as this were known as "reversible." In other words, the mechanical works could be inverted and stored within the gorgeous walnut cabinet. This is truly an extraordinary instrument and one that is both a visual delight, and capable of high quality reproduction. No American mechanism ever attained quite this level of charm, generously mixed with eccentricty!
Price: $1350.00, including two 2-minute cylinder records, plus s/h (NY State residents must add tax).
Contact: phonotim@gmail.com
Telephone: 585-244-5546
US Post: PHONOPHAN
PO Box 747
Henrietta, NY 14467 USA
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