Pathe-Theatre records

Like the Pathe-Concert series, these were special 20 inches records made for public performances. While Concert records turned at 120rpm, these ones turned at 60rpm and last 15 minutes (7 minutes per side). Each side had two titles. These records are extremely rare. One could wonder why they were called Pathe-Theatre. This is indeed a strange naming. Most interesting is how Pathe made these particular records. As a matter of fact, pre-1925 vertical records were all recorded on a giant master wax cylinder called "paradis". The cylinder was then transferred on wax master by a custom pantograph. The master was then electroplated for duplication. The pantograph was a very special machine. Both of the wax disc and paradis cylinder moved using interchangeable feedscrews as several sizes of discs and cylinders could be used, and it was not possible to interrupt the transfer to insert more than one title per side of the wax master (this is mostly due to the appartus which transferred the sound from cylinder to disc, as this one was not fixed). The obvious question is how Pathe managed to record two consecutive titles. One possible answer is that Pathe directly recorded the disc master. This is absolutely possible if Theatre records are more recent than other pre-1925 vertical records, otherwise Pathe would not need recording on cylinders first. This question is still a mystery. A spectral analysis of the recorded sound could give more details.

Center-start verticals cut in reverse

Ever wondered how Pathe managed to make center start records begining at the right position for ending at almost the same position from the border ? Since those records were recorded using mechanical equipment, it was not possible to calculate the exact width of the recording. As a matter of fact, machines never turned at the same speed, and since more than one master cylinder were recorded using several machines, none of those masters were recorded at the same speed, thus making it impossible to know exactly how large the recorded surface would be on the final disc record. However, if the master cylinder was transferred to the master wax disc in reverse, then the transfer would start from the edge and finish on the center. This is what Pathe did. If you carefully look at the edge of the record, you will notice that the cutting stylus progressively entered into the wax. This is where the transfer started. Also, if you carefully look at the first groove on the center, you will notice that this groove goes straight deep into the wax. This is the end of the cylinder-to-disc transfer. Thus, center start Pathe records were transferred in reverse from the master wax cylinder to the master wax disc in order to make the recording start at the right position on the center, and end at the right position from the edge.