On Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:03:42 +0000 (GMT), Jim Lesurf
wrote:

I have recently intercepted an ancient turntable/arm that was on a free
parabola that would otherwise have terminated in a skip. :-)

The turntable is ye anciente Garrard 301. But although the arm looks
familiar to me I can't recall what make/model it is! Looked though various
old magazines and books I have, but not yet identified it.

I've put some pics on the page

http://jcgl.orpheusweb.co.uk/temp/arm.html

Can anyone identify the arm? And does anyone know of a user or setup manual
for it on the web?

FWIW The turntable rotates, but the arm looks to be in a condition
somewhere between FOBB and FUBAR. The (plastic?) grip that should hold the
lift and bias is fractured. And the arm is business-end heavy even if I
remove the headshell and move the weight back as far as I can. Although
this may be because I don't know something vital about the setup due to
lack of a manual! So any info welcome.

Looking at the arm, names like micro-seki and audio tech come to mind, but
none of their models I've found in references are the one in the pics, so
my mind may be playing tricks here...

If I could get the arm working I could at least check out the turntable for
rumble and speed stability, etc. Then decide if it was all junk, or worth
fitting some other ancient arm for experimental purposes.

Slainte,

Jim


I have a similar one in the loft and like wise I don't know the name.

The counter balance on mine is set up after mounting the shell and
cartidge by firstly setting the rotating scale to zero, in line with
the mark on the shaft top, and then unclamping the weight and sliding
it until the arm is balanced. The weight is then reclamped and the
dial rotated until the scale reads the recommended weight for the
cartridge. (On some similar designs the weight and dial rotate as a
unit).

The anti-skating weight arm should rest against the peg protruding
from the side of the pick-up arm. These should be kept very clean as
it causes friction.

Hope this helps

John