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anyone else running vintage Empire carts?

Actually, I made a big mistake about two and a half years ago. While cleaning and tidying up my attic, I threw away the box that contained many tools for my turntables, and the original 2000 E/III box. I have found an equivalent for the contents; now I just need to recreate the box to match the original. I also managed to make myself another copy of the assembly instructions; it's what it is, we'll see if I can also get one in PDF from a regular box.
 
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Here is my latest creation; if you're interested, just print it double-sided, reversing the direction of the sheet, and you'll get two booklets. Let me know if anyone is interested ;)
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In Word or PDF version ;)
 
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Jeannot61 said:
Actually, I made a big mistake about two and a half years ago. While cleaning and tidying up my attic, I threw away the box that contained many tools for my turntables, and the original 2000 E/III box. I have found an equivalent for the contents; now I just need to recreate the box to match the original. I also managed to make myself another copy of the assembly instructions; it's what it is, we'll see if I can also get one in PDF from a regular box.
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I have a same cartridge. Very desirable for recording playback. It has a closeness / similarity to the 1000 SE/X
 
What do you guys recommend for a loupe electronic loupe so I can physically see the stylus condition and most likely to set it up on the fly close to specs?
 
Hello everyone, here is the making of a box for the Empire 2000 E/III. There are still a couple of small things to do, but overall, I am pretty happy with the result.20260122_090637.png20260122_090650.png20260122_090658.png20260122_090802.png20260122_090827.png
 
rudolfo said:
I was gonna ask one of my 999 has a loose stylus slide in housing (almost dropping a stylus). Can you actually fix that the right way or is it a bye-bye?
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With small pliers or anything needle-shaped and good lighting, try to push out a side or two of the insertion tube so that the innards of the cartridge body grip it more tightly. All you really need to do is bulge out a wall or two at the tail end of the tube. Do a bit at a time and test. Don't mess with any tie wires you may find.

Alternatively, you could wrap thin tape around the end of the tube to increase the diameter. Even a thin coating of a hard wax might make enough friction to solve the problem.

Sometimes I've been known to simply use teeny rubber bands to hold styli in when I don't wanna bother with a solution that looks like hard work.
 
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wualta said:
With small pliers or anything needle-shaped and good lighting try to push out a side or two of the insertion tube so that the innards of the cartridge body grip it more tightly. All you really need to do is bulge out a wall or two at the tail end of the tube. Do a bit at a time and test. Don't mess with any tie wires you may find.

Alternatively, you could wrap thin tape around the end of the tube to increase the diameter. Even a thin coating of a hard wax might make enough friction to solve the problem.

Sometimes I've been known to simply use teeny rubber bands to hold styli in when I don't wanna bother with a solution that looks like hard work.
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Okay so leave the cartridge alone and work on the stylus insertion housing if that is correct?
Thanks,
R
 
A solution I used at my brother-in-law's was to put a small dot of glue on the part that goes into the cartridge, then let it dry, and then scrape it lightly until it holds well enough without having to force the stylus in. I used 'extra' glue, but it also works with a small amount of contact glue, which is easier to remove if necessary.
 
rudolfo said:
Okay so leave the cartridge alone and work on the stylus insertion housing if that is correct?
Click to expand...

That's what I would do. I can't think of a guaranteed-safe way to add springiness to the permalloy pole pieces inside the cartridge.
 
rudolfo said:
What do you guys recommend for a loupe electronic loupe so I can physically see the stylus condition and most likely to set it up on the fly close to specs?
Click to expand...

Two different problems with two different solutions.

For setup (and close-up work generally), my old eyes appreciate something like the Donegan Optivisor: OptiVISOR - Donegan Optical Company, Inc.

For checking stylus condition, you need a microscope with far higher magnification. Doesn't need to be fancy, necessarily, but nice optics helps. It's its own rabbit hole. There are threads on the site that will provide more expertise than I can offer.
 
PS, you don't necessarily need to buy new. Donegan has been around a long time, and used Optivisors are not rare. There are also a LOT of old lab-quality student microscopes in the world. 80s, 90s, and even 00s is old now. Sorry friends. So we're not talking antiques. But please arm yourself with information should you choose this route. Same as for old cartridges.
 
This is not the first time I’ve seen a Shure diamond in an Empire cartridge; it certainly works. However, the Shure has a moving magnet at the end of the cantilever, so that must be why it works, as it is still quite far from the strategic point for the tip of the Empire cantilever.
 
Found in the wild. Looks genuine Empire to me which would make it mis packaged. It's the proper translucent smoke color for an S2000 and it has the gold needle protector. But I have never come across that branding sticker on the later style 2000 series needles?!? Was this a later model? The back of the package doesn't even say "made in the USA"2846.jpg
I kinda like it!
 
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