The Pathé Coquet phonograph began production in 1902, and as early as the following year, it was exclusively distributed by Girard & Cie, a company dedicated solely to their sale.
The history of Pathé Frères (translated as the Pathé Brothers Company) dates back to 1896, when four brothers—avid enthusiasts of the burgeoning fields of cinematography and sound recording technology—founded a company in Paris to import and sell American phonographs. At the dawn of the new century, however, they made a pivotal decision to develop and sell their own entirely French-made devices. They achieved remarkable success in this endeavor: not only did they produce an incredible array of gramophones and phonographs, but they also became one of the world's leading film brands, significantly contributing to the advancement of cinematography. Pathé is also well-known for its "weekly newsreel," which was shown in cinemas before the main feature film.