Audio Empire Tonearm & head shell

[SFBayArch]

I have a Rek-O-Kut N-33H turntable with what I'm pretty sure is an Audio Empire 98 tonearm mounted (not sure of differences between 98 and 980). I have finally gotten around to this project and I want to address the head shell problem first. The part that fits into the end of the tonearm has completely sheared off, exposing the the leads to the cartridge. It appears this hard-to-find head shell is a write off. Which leads me to these questions:

1) What are my alternative head shell options? Do other, more easily obtainable Empire head shells fit?
2) If other head shells cannot be mounted, maybe it's easier to just swap out a drop in replacement. Which tonearms would be a good alternative drop in on this ROK N-33H?

 

[SFBayArch]

Maybe one of these?
Can anyone confirm if this one below is a match for the tonearm in the above post?

 

[Nat]

It looks like the pins in the Empire headshell are spring loaded, which suggests the contacts in the arm are not. SME/japanese headshells have the revers arrangement, and so you might not get good contact using the newer headshell.
I'm not at all sure about this, but I sort of suspect that the diameter of the bayonet may be different also.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

That headshell posted is SME/JIS/Ortofon and incompatible with Empire tonearms.

 

[SFBayArch]

Thanks for the info and ruling that head shell out...

So, if I stick with the Empire arm, what head shell options do I have?

 

[Nat]

I think your options are Empire. You really don't have many options other than the original version. I could be wrong, but any alternatives -- maybe Rekokut or ESL -- would be just as scare. Alas...
On the brighter side, it would be worth it, unlike some audio expenditures.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Indeed. Only takes that family of Empire headshells. Only other option is to change tonearms.