Need help to identify tonearm with sdt-cartridge

Sunnbobb

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I have hunted the internet trying to find this tone arm with no luck. I'm throwing this out to the PH crowd to see if anyone can identify it?
Thanks!! tonearm.jpg
 
Gepetto

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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.
 
Sunnbobb

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Gepetto said:
I threw the image to Copilot and the above is what it told me
Click to expand...
Hmm, I don't see anything like that, that matches this tonearm.. Googled Shure sdf-10. I think the copilot picked up on the Win SDF-10 logo on the front of the cartridge..
 
J!m

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That threaded rod lift point screams home-brew. As does the pivot "design".

More pictures from more angles please!
 
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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!
 
Sunnbobb

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George S. said:
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!
Click to expand...
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
 
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You can buy ruby jewels quite cheaply for pocket watch repair... And those are about the right size.
 
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If it's home-brew, which I'm in agreement it is, it's older and very interesting. If not home-brew, still interesting but maybe not as much.

I'm in the "more pictures" camp on this one...
 
Sunnbobb

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Gepetto said:
Home Depot special...
Click to expand...
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

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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?
 
Sunnbobb

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J!m said:
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?
Click to expand...
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

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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.
 
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