Name/Title
Le Ménestrel (Blue Model) Pathé Frères / J. Girard & Cie, ParisEntry/Object ID
223Description
ca. 1902
Historical Background
The phonograph Le Ménestrel was first offered by Pathé Frères around 1900 in a simple wooden case. In 1902, the Parisian distributor J. Girard & Cie commissioned a more luxurious version: a phonograph with a massive cast-iron base, richly decorated in the Louis XV style.
The blue-painted case and metal lid are highlighted with gold ornamentation, including royal fleur-de-lis motifs and a lyre symbolizing music. Equipped with the Pathé “Rex” reproducer, the machine played standard Pathé cylinders.
Technology and Features
Cast-iron base, painted blue, with elaborate gold decoration
Metal lid with fleur-de-lis and lyre motifs
Pathé “Rex” soundbox, compatible with standard-format Pathé cylinders
Retail price: 147 Francs, payable in 21 monthly installments of 7 Francs
Included with purchase: 10 recorded and 5 blank cylinders
Comparison with the Green Model (1903)
In 1903, Pathé introduced a nearly identical green version of Le Ménestrel. The key difference: the green model was also capable of playing the larger “Inter” cylinders, offering longer playtime. The blue version, however, was limited to the standard format.
Rarity and Significance
The blue Ménestrel represents the first luxury edition in this series, designed to bring Pathé phonographs into elegant middle-class salons. Together with the green successor, it illustrates Pathé’s strategy of expanding from simple cylinder machines into increasingly ornate and versatile home models.
