C. Paillard & Cie, Ste Croix, Switzerland.


In 1814 Möise Paillard opened a watch-making workshop at Sainte-Croix in canton Vaud, switzerland. The business later diversified into the manufacture of music boxes, gramophones and portable typewriters. in 1935 Paillard took over the Bolex factory and became involved in the manufacture of film cameras and projectors.
The Paillard company sold a wide range of gramophones powered by either clockwork or hot air motors. The hot air engine powered machines were in production from around 1910 to 1914.
An early catalogue listed four hot air engine powered gramophones. It was claimed one pint of spirit gave a playing time of 12 hours.

Although Paillard claimed there was no perceptible heat and no danger, the spirit burner was fitted with an automatic wick adjuster which increased the chances of the machine catching fire.
Also available was an apparatus for shop window display where the hot air engine drove a circular display base instead of a gramophone disc. It was claimed half a pint of spirit was sufficient for a running time of 45 hours.


Pallard

Pallard

Pallard

Further information can be found at the following web sites

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  2. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=rV5-s3b_0S0


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