RARE FRENCH PHONOGRAPH - Le PHONOGRAPHES De FRANCOIS DESIRE ODOBEZ, WOOD HORN
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:575086 | Modified Item: No |
| Country/Region of Manufacture: France |
This is a true rarity that I picked up last year at a south Texas estate sale with many other phonographs. There is very, very little info on the web about this machine or the maker - Francois Desire' Odobez. This name is associated with clock making in France from way back. My research found that he had made at least 3 different machines, this one being the most elaborate. I found only one other like this and it had sold in 2017 on auction site CataWiki for over 1600.00 U.S. dollars. ...Seller was from France. My understanding is that only a small handful of these were made in the early 1980's. Information on these machines is practically non-existent. The few that have turned up were all in Europe and elsewhere. This could be the only one to show up for sale in America.
This is a real wind-up phonograph and is a quality machine with much attention to detail - not a "made in China" piece of junk. Apparently the correct name for it is "Pathé la voix de son maitre phonograph gramophone". It was sold to me under the assumption that the spring was broke, as it would not wind up. However after inspection I am 99% sure that the spring has simply slipped off the knob inside the barrel (judging from the feel and sound it is making when winding). The motor is all brass and has a single spring barrel. I removed the barrel to see if I could fix it and did not know how to get inside it. I am not enough of a machinist to attempt it and I don't trust myself doing it. I am confident that all it is is the spring slipped off inside and is not broken. Motor is very easily serviced and simply designed. Reproducer is a rotating head that plays standard Victrola records and rotates to play early Pathe discs with a sapphire needle (not included). There is a felt sound damper inside the neck of the horn with a lever to operate it (see photo). Marquetry horn inlaid with "dark pitch pine wood strips imported from Quebec Canada" (info taken from listing on Catawiki). Rear bracket appears to be cast iron while the horn neck and tone arm seem to be cast aluminum with a beautiful texture. Brake and speed control on top. Highly detailed wooden base is in very good condition with a minor issue on the very back panel: there appears to be a couple of small raised places where the veneer is buckled up. Hard to photograph but I can provide a picture to whoever needs it. Very minor and it is on the very back out of view. Top of horn has a very small area of discoloring which I believe is from something on it from the building it was stored in (see photo). Metal accents and turntable edge are shiny and nice. Top of motor board raises up without removing crank to access motor and store needles if needed. A couple of minor marks on the motorboard which might could be polished out. Bottom front corner of base may have been bumped slightly in the past - not bad. Overall I rate the appearance at least an 8.5 on a scale of ten. Horn is gorgeous as well as the metal brackets. Reproducer seems fine and is attached with a couple of tiny screws - does move a bit back and forth and may need tightening. Horn measures about 15 1/2" across bell and about 20 inches long. Base measures 13 1/2" square and 8" high. There was an assembly paper inside showing all the parts and, while in English, seems to have been translated from French, judging from the words and phrases employed. Also has a booklet in French which is a brief history of the phonograph. It is on the assembly paper that a date of 1984 shows up. Also has the name, address and phone numbers to the maker. I am selling this on a BEST OFFER basis as I am in need of funds - my wife lost her job and we have family issues to deal with. Wanted to see this through to repair and placed for bid but need to sell it quickly if possible. I have much experience selling and shipping antique phonographs successfully and will be shipped in 2 separate boxes by FedEx Ground. Horn box will be large - approx. 18x18x24". Both base and horn will each be double boxed for safety. Extra pictures of any part you need will be provided quickly. I take up to 5 days handling time as this is not my only job and I don't trust the packing to anyone else. FedEx ground is most affordable and have had very good success with them lately. Buyer will pay exact charges. Weight shown is approximate only. Difficult for me to estimate cost right now due to unknown size of horn box. ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED PROMPTLY AND MORE PICTURES CAN BE PROVIDED. No returns. Is being sold in non-working order. Thanks and God bless!
This is a real wind-up phonograph and is a quality machine with much attention to detail - not a "made in China" piece of junk. Apparently the correct name for it is "Pathé la voix de son maitre phonograph gramophone". It was sold to me under the assumption that the spring was broke, as it would not wind up. However after inspection I am 99% sure that the spring has simply slipped off the knob inside the barrel (judging from the feel and sound it is making when winding). The motor is all brass and has a single spring barrel. I removed the barrel to see if I could fix it and did not know how to get inside it. I am not enough of a machinist to attempt it and I don't trust myself doing it. I am confident that all it is is the spring slipped off inside and is not broken. Motor is very easily serviced and simply designed. Reproducer is a rotating head that plays standard Victrola records and rotates to play early Pathe discs with a sapphire needle (not included). There is a felt sound damper inside the neck of the horn with a lever to operate it (see photo). Marquetry horn inlaid with "dark pitch pine wood strips imported from Quebec Canada" (info taken from listing on Catawiki). Rear bracket appears to be cast iron while the horn neck and tone arm seem to be cast aluminum with a beautiful texture. Brake and speed control on top. Highly detailed wooden base is in very good condition with a minor issue on the very back panel: there appears to be a couple of small raised places where the veneer is buckled up. Hard to photograph but I can provide a picture to whoever needs it. Very minor and it is on the very back out of view. Top of horn has a very small area of discoloring which I believe is from something on it from the building it was stored in (see photo). Metal accents and turntable edge are shiny and nice. Top of motor board raises up without removing crank to access motor and store needles if needed. A couple of minor marks on the motorboard which might could be polished out. Bottom front corner of base may have been bumped slightly in the past - not bad. Overall I rate the appearance at least an 8.5 on a scale of ten. Horn is gorgeous as well as the metal brackets. Reproducer seems fine and is attached with a couple of tiny screws - does move a bit back and forth and may need tightening. Horn measures about 15 1/2" across bell and about 20 inches long. Base measures 13 1/2" square and 8" high. There was an assembly paper inside showing all the parts and, while in English, seems to have been translated from French, judging from the words and phrases employed. Also has a booklet in French which is a brief history of the phonograph. It is on the assembly paper that a date of 1984 shows up. Also has the name, address and phone numbers to the maker. I am selling this on a BEST OFFER basis as I am in need of funds - my wife lost her job and we have family issues to deal with. Wanted to see this through to repair and placed for bid but need to sell it quickly if possible. I have much experience selling and shipping antique phonographs successfully and will be shipped in 2 separate boxes by FedEx Ground. Horn box will be large - approx. 18x18x24". Both base and horn will each be double boxed for safety. Extra pictures of any part you need will be provided quickly. I take up to 5 days handling time as this is not my only job and I don't trust the packing to anyone else. FedEx ground is most affordable and have had very good success with them lately. Buyer will pay exact charges. Weight shown is approximate only. Difficult for me to estimate cost right now due to unknown size of horn box. ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED PROMPTLY AND MORE PICTURES CAN BE PROVIDED. No returns. Is being sold in non-working order. Thanks and God bless!
