Any SME type headshell will fit the Toshiba (like the one on a Technics SL-1200 disco deck).
A good starter cartridge is the Audio Technica AT-VM95E with elliptical stylus. Its captive nuts make it easy to fit in the headshell.
Unfortunately, a counterweight could prove difficult to source. You may require to have one fabricated to suit.
A good starter cartridge is the Audio Technica AT-VM95E with elliptical stylus. Its captive nuts make it easy to fit in the headshell.
Unfortunately, a counterweight could prove difficult to source. You may require to have one fabricated to suit.
Maybe look on Yahoo auctions Japan for the counterweight as well as eBay. Galu is likely right, and you might have to get the weight fabricated. You might make a temporary one out of carefully chosen flat washers glued together with JB Weld or UK equivalent. (This should help to determine the mass required) A good UK based home machinist ought to be able to make one for you and I suspect if you ask around in analog source someone will be able to help you out. (A member long ago made me a pulley for a TD-124, far beyond my machining skills. )
The tracking force is dictated by the pickup cartridge (not the turntable) and is stated by the cartridge manufacturer. For the AT-VM95E this is 2 g.
A stylus tracking force gauge will be necessary. Inexpensive digital ones are available from Amazon.
A stylus tracking force gauge will be necessary. Inexpensive digital ones are available from Amazon.
I like the washer idea to get the mass.
Just a suggestion:
Once you have an idea of the mass required to balance the arm horizontally (when fitted with headshell and cartridge), it might be worth giving these guys a call, stating the mass required and the diameter of the arm stub onto which the counterweight fits: https://www.turntableworld.co.uk/analogue-c49/tonearms-c3/counterweights-c123
A counterweight fitted with a grub screw to fix it in position once the required tracking force is applied looks the way to go.
This counterweight (mass 130 g) is an example of what might be suitable for your Toshiba: https://www.turntableworld.co.uk/an...hts-c123/rb220-mild-steel-counterweight-p2121
The short 20 mm stub presents a problem.
An elongated counterweight is necessary in order that its centre of mass is far enough away from the arm pivot to provide a sufficient turning moment to balance the weight of the tonearm.
I fear that the washer idea may not be practical as a very large mass would be required with the stub so close to the pivot.
In less technical terms, consider this seesaw:
You could devise some way of extending the length of the stub - a hollow extension tube would be required I guess.
An elongated counterweight is necessary in order that its centre of mass is far enough away from the arm pivot to provide a sufficient turning moment to balance the weight of the tonearm.
I fear that the washer idea may not be practical as a very large mass would be required with the stub so close to the pivot.
In less technical terms, consider this seesaw:
You could devise some way of extending the length of the stub - a hollow extension tube would be required I guess.
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Mmm @Galu thanks. Im probably too far down to turn around now but it's looking more and more difficult. I suppose I could hold until a part becomes available but they seem rare. An extension of aluminium tubing may be an option but how long would it need to be and then it may render a OTM weight not possible.
Ive tried sourcing a tech spec which may give dimensions of the weight but that's difficult too.
Was wondering if another SR series tone arm would fit and replace the whole kit n caboodle but that may be opening a huge worm of cans.😜
Ive tried sourcing a tech spec which may give dimensions of the weight but that's difficult too.
Was wondering if another SR series tone arm would fit and replace the whole kit n caboodle but that may be opening a huge worm of cans.😜
You could rig up a temporary extension in order to determine a suitable mass and distance of its centre of gravity from the pivot.
Armed with that information, I suggest you take kevinkr's advice and ask in the Analogue Source section of the forum if there is a member who would be willing to fabricate the required elongated counterweight for you.
Analogue Source is where you will find the turntable experts, and some may have come across your problem before.
Armed with that information, I suggest you take kevinkr's advice and ask in the Analogue Source section of the forum if there is a member who would be willing to fabricate the required elongated counterweight for you.
Analogue Source is where you will find the turntable experts, and some may have come across your problem before.
I've been doing a little research on the SR300C.
It turns out that this turntable was intended to be "plug and play", i.e., with no user adjustments necessary.
The "C" version was factory supplied with cartridge type C-27M of tracking force 3 g. An anti-skating force was said to be applied (supposedly by an internal spring) to match that tracking force.
In accordance with the "plug and play" intention it follows that the counterbalance weight was attached in a fixed position on the stub in order to produce a factory set tracking force of 3 g.
It turns out that this turntable was intended to be "plug and play", i.e., with no user adjustments necessary.
The "C" version was factory supplied with cartridge type C-27M of tracking force 3 g. An anti-skating force was said to be applied (supposedly by an internal spring) to match that tracking force.
In accordance with the "plug and play" intention it follows that the counterbalance weight was attached in a fixed position on the stub in order to produce a factory set tracking force of 3 g.
Thanks. Just now not sure if that effort/cost is worth it for this level of turntable.You could rig up a temporary extension in order to determine a suitable mass and distance of its centre of gravity from the pivot.
Armed with that information, I suggest you take kevinkr's advice and ask in the Analogue Source section of the forum if there is a member who would be willing to fabricate the required elongated counterweight for you.
Analogue Source is where you will find the turntable experts, and some may have come across your problem before.
If it's retro and reliability you're after, you can't go far wrong with a Pioneer PL-12D.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15643180...JHbIzD+KxXLibtd6IVkGaaw9s=|tkp:Bk9SR4ibsvTHZA
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15643180...JHbIzD+KxXLibtd6IVkGaaw9s=|tkp:Bk9SR4ibsvTHZA
@stubbs04
Now that we have established the "plug and play" nature of this turntable and its fixed anti-skating force of 3 g, I am going to revise my cartridge suggestion.
The Audio-Technica AT3600L is a popular budget cartridge that performs well above its weight and which is designed to track at the required heavier force of 3g.
Now that we have established the "plug and play" nature of this turntable and its fixed anti-skating force of 3 g, I am going to revise my cartridge suggestion.
The Audio-Technica AT3600L is a popular budget cartridge that performs well above its weight and which is designed to track at the required heavier force of 3g.