A friend has a Rock-Ola 484 Jukebox, made in the early 80's I believe. The cartridge in it has literally fallen appart. I found on the Internet where it was a shure M44, but there are several variants of the M44, and in other places I found other cartridges listed. Anyone know what a good replacement cartridge (preferably readily available) for this Jukebox might be? It plays 45 RPM Records.

Richard

If I remember right, the M-44 is a very durable anti-skip setup .. It is used in juke box just for that reason .. The mount is very standard .. This One

http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/DJPhonoCartridgesAndNeedles/us_pro_M44-7_content

:If I remember right, the M-44 is a very durable anti-skip setup .. It is used in juke box just for that reason .. The mount is very standard .. This One
:
:http://www.shure.com/ProAudio/Products/DJPhonoCartridgesAndNeedles/us_pro_M44-7_content

There is a slight difference to the Rockola cartridge used. The difference is strictly physical. Electrically, they are the same. The mounting holes were modified for Rockola. A "regular" M-44 will protrude out of the bottom of the arm as it will sit on the bottom of the mounting posts. It can be compensated for by adjustments of tone arm height adjustments. The modified Rockola version Shure catridge fits over the tone arm posts allowing the cartridge to fit flat up in the arm. I might have one kicking around here without a stylus.
The cartridge for Rockola was marked on the front M-44MR.

FR

Fred,

Thanks for the information. The Jukebox belongs to a 72 year old friend, he has had it in his living room for years. I rummaged around in it to see what was actually wrong (someone else had told him he needed a new cartridge). The 'body' of the cartridge has seperated from the mounting part. It looks like it was originally glued in. The cartridge itself is much smaller than the entire unit with the mounts. It looks like they used the same electrical cartridge in different mounts, simply 'glued' in? I have not tested the cartridge yet. I assume that any stylus for an M44 that will work with 45's should be ok? His stylus is definitely not in good shape. This is much newer than what I usually tinker with :)

Richard AKA Nostalgia Air

:There is a slight difference to the Rockola cartridge used. The difference is strictly physical. Electrically, they are the same. The mounting holes were modified for Rockola. A "regular" M-44 will protrude out of the bottom of the arm as it will sit on the bottom of the mounting posts. It can be compensated for by adjustments of tone arm height adjustments. The modified Rockola version Shure catridge fits over the tone arm posts allowing the cartridge to fit flat up in the arm. I might have one kicking around here without a stylus.
:The cartridge for Rockola was marked on the front M-44MR.
:
:FR

If that is the only thing wrong with it, it can be glued abck in. I have seen them where the back part with the four posts gets yanked out. The fine wires are impossible to see let alone resolder. Any M-44 stylus will fit but being the rougher handling in a jukebox, look for a conical replacement if you can. The reord wear would be less than an eliptical. When my old company operated Rockola machines, they bought whatever they could buy in quantities. We did use plenty of elipticals in Rockola and AMI machines which also used M-44 cartridges up until they discontinued 45 boxes.

FR

:Fred,
:
:Thanks for the information. The Jukebox belongs to a 72 year old friend, he has had it in his living room for years. I rummaged around in it to see what was actually wrong (someone else had told him he needed a new cartridge). The 'body' of the cartridge has seperated from the mounting part. It looks like it was originally glued in. The cartridge itself is much smaller than the entire unit with the mounts. It looks like they used the same electrical cartridge in different mounts, simply 'glued' in? I have not tested the cartridge yet. I assume that any stylus for an M44 that will work with 45's should be ok? His stylus is definitely not in good shape. This is much newer than what I usually tinker with :)
:
:Richard AKA Nostalgia Air
:
::There is a slight difference to the Rockola cartridge used. The difference is strictly physical. Electrically, they are the same. The mounting holes were modified for Rockola. A "regular" M-44 will protrude out of the bottom of the arm as it will sit on the bottom of the mounting posts. It can be compensated for by adjustments of tone arm height adjustments. The modified Rockola version Shure catridge fits over the tone arm posts allowing the cartridge to fit flat up in the arm. I might have one kicking around here without a stylus.
::The cartridge for Rockola was marked on the front M-44MR.
::
::FR

Fred,

I took a closer look yesterday. It appears that the smaller portion of the cartridge was pulled out the back of the outer shell. The cartridge is intact, the wires are still attached to the cartridge. I will have to move the monster to work on it, so I won't know whether I need anything other than a new stylus for a few days at least. But it looks promising. Thanks for the help, I will keep you posted.

Richard

:If that is the only thing wrong with it, it can be glued abck in. I have seen them where the back part with the four posts gets yanked out. The fine wires are impossible to see let alone resolder. Any M-44 stylus will fit but being the rougher handling in a jukebox, look for a conical replacement if you can. The reord wear would be less than an eliptical. When my old company operated Rockola machines, they bought whatever they could buy in quantities. We did use plenty of elipticals in Rockola and AMI machines which also used M-44 cartridges up until they discontinued 45 boxes.