I have this Philco 46-1209 that I need a 78 only cartridge for. I believe this original is good but I can't seem to find a stylus for it. And it doesn't have the standard 1/2" mount hole pattern. It's around 19/32". Gib at West-Tech says the cartridge is not rebuildable and the needles are no longer available.

I took some phono wire and hooked this old cartridge to a good amp and ran my finger across the very worn out needle and still got scratchy noises from the speaker. But still no stylus for it.

So I'd like to replace the complete cartridge. I'm open to all suggestions but so far it sounds like the Shure M78S might be a good choice. I can fabricate a mount bracket for it and there may be some preamp stuff involved. I just don't know until I get it in the phono and hooked up to the 46-1209 amp.

Any great ideas? I'd like to hear them.

Thanks,
Johnny

Looks like a tough one.

These folks have a pretty wide-ranging stock of stylii, plus they have been very helpful to me in the past via telephone inquiries I've made to find difficult parts.

Click here: Garage-a-Records

That Shure cartridge is a magnetic one...If you have a spare mag cartridge, hook it up temporarily and see what you kind of output you get. You may have to add one of those phono pre-amps in line with it to get good output. Otherwise you have to add another stage of amplification to the Philco.

I'm gonna have to deal with that sooner or later along with the weight issue. As for magnetic, isn't the original magnetic. It sticks to everything metal that comes close to it.

Johnny

:That Shure cartridge is a magnetic one...If you have a spare mag cartridge, hook it up temporarily and see what you kind of output you get. You may have to add one of those phono pre-amps in line with it to get good output. Otherwise you have to add another stage of amplification to the Philco.
:

It has been a tough one. Garage-A-Records told me to go try West-Tech. Already talked to Gib. So I've come full circle and no cartridge or needle.

Guess it's time to look for a new record changer to replace this one with.

Thanks anyway!

Johnny

:Looks like a tough one.
:
:These folks have a pretty wide-ranging stock of stylii, plus they have been very helpful to me in the past via telephone inquiries I've made to find difficult parts.
:
:Click here: Garage-a-Records
:

The problem putting a new cartridge in the old pre-1950 phono arms is the weight of these old arms is too much for the modern low tracking force cartridges. If you have to go with another 78 turntable, try to find one that used an Astatic 24 or similar large crystal cartridge that Gib can rebuild. He has done a couple of these for me, and they play great. He even offers a sapphire needle replacement for the steel tipped needle they originally used. he can rebuild most thumbscrew style needle cartridges for around $50.

I've been trying to get in touch with Gib because I know he may still have a turntable all ready to go that will fit this Philco. Now there's no answering machine pickup. I'll try emailing him again. Just spent an hour on the phone with him just the other day just BS'in. I guess he's into some new rubber deal that's keeping him pretty busy. I'll nail him down or take a shot on Ebay. Uugh!

Thanks for the info! I'll keep that in mind. I knew tone arm weight would be a problem but that can be fairly easily remedied. It's all the pre-amp or mods to this amp that scare me.

Johnny

:The problem putting a new cartridge in the old pre-1950 phono arms is the weight of these old arms is too much for the modern low tracking force cartridges. If you have to go with another 78 turntable, try to find one that used an Astatic 24 or similar large crystal cartridge that Gib can rebuild. He has done a couple of these for me, and they play great. He even offers a sapphire needle replacement for the steel tipped needle they originally used. he can rebuild most thumbscrew style needle cartridges for around $50.
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