Need help to identify tonearm with sdt-cartridge

Gepetto

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
13,894
Location
Sterling, MA
Tagline
Old 'Arn Enthusiast
#2
Thanks for the additional detail! The SDF-10 tonearm is a model from Shure, known for its high-quality design and performance. It's often used in professional audio setups and high-end turntables.
 

George S.

Veteran and General Yakker
Joined
Feb 18, 2020
Messages
5,006
#8
The head shell edges look like they were hand filed.
I can't find a match using Google Lens.
It may have sapphire cups installed for the pivots, one of the things done when upgrading the AR tonearm.
Really interesting!
 
Joined
May 25, 2023
Messages
195
Location
Mount Vernon, WA
Tagline
Bikes, baseball and big amps.
#9
The head shell edges look like they were hand filed.
I can't find a match using Google Lens.
It may have sapphire cups installed for the pivots, one of the things done when upgrading the AR tonearm.
Really interesting!
I'll try and get some more photos. For even more interesting stuff about this turntable, check out the win labs SDT 10 cartridge.. LOL
 
Joined
May 25, 2023
Messages
195
Location
Mount Vernon, WA
Tagline
Bikes, baseball and big amps.
#14
Home Depot special...
Lol. Guess I'm on the hunt for a decent tonearm! My guess is this was one of the thorens offered by the factory without a stock tonearm.
This project will utilize all the skills I have picked up working on stereo gear. Replacing 50 year old capacitors (phase linear ), wood cabinet refinishing (AR's), and mechanical reworking (teac tape decks)... Ha.
 

J!m

Veteran and General Yakker
Joined
Dec 24, 2019
Messages
10,615
Location
Connecticut
Tagline
BOT
#16
Does it even align?

The geometry is not that difficult but holding tolerance (which is tiny) on things is not so easy.

Looks interesting, but for sure appears home-made to me. Maybe popular mechanics had a drawing to make it in 1968?
 
Joined
May 25, 2023
Messages
195
Location
Mount Vernon, WA
Tagline
Bikes, baseball and big amps.
#17
Does it even align?

The geometry is not that difficult but holding tolerance (which is tiny) on things is not so easy.

Looks interesting, but for sure appears home-made to me. Maybe popular mechanics had a drawing to make it in 1968?
That's the free thinking I love on this forum. I'm going to replace the tonearm, but continue to try and figure the story behind this one. Thanks for the idea.
 

J!m

Veteran and General Yakker
Joined
Dec 24, 2019
Messages
10,615
Location
Connecticut
Tagline
BOT
#19
I had a design I abandoned that used a carbon tube for the arm. It was for kite making.

Light and stiff but rang like a bell. Headshell was porous ceramic- which I like and will keep using if I ever make what ever version I’m up to now. New arm tube is completely radical sci-fi shit. Patent worthy even but those are expensive… light and stiff but should have no specific resonant frequency.

Length: the longer the arm, the lower the tracking distortion.
 
Top