B&O MMC 20 CL-B cartridge -- is this new or used?

[jlecount]

My father passed away last year and left me his b&o beogram 4004, as well as this cartridge. I'm not experienced with turntable cartridges -- it seems that this might be used, and he put it away back in the original case, OR it could be unused. Looking at it, i don't know which is which. On one hand, i see dust and such, which seems odd if it had never been used. If any of you have more experienced eyes, can you help advise me? Thank you!

So it's in the original box, including warranty card etc. It's been on a shelf for decades, I think, but again, do not know if he just kept it after replacing the cartridge, or bought this to replace the one on the tonearm... Here are the photos I could get from my cell -- my wife's cell has a better camera. I could take probably a little better ones with hers if somebody thinks that's useful...Also, i dunno, but it almost looks like the needle is burned -- is that wear? And you can clearly see dust, which seems weird if this hadn't been opened.

 

[mrwood200]

.....or bought this to replace the one on the tonearm...

Looks like a used MMC 20EN stylus in a MMC 20 CL-B box.
Not that uncommon where someone may have put the old one in the new one's box when replacing. What stylus is on the 4004 today?
The 'dust' is probably vinyl shavings from use. I am not familiar with these b&o styli, but the darker tip color does not appear to be a concern; stylus could still have some life left.

 

[jlecount]

The stylus on the arm now is another MMC 20CL. I can't easily visually inspect it without taking it off, which I can do if I look up how...

Regardless, I just set up the 4004 now and put on Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield, a favorite of my dad and me, and it sounds great. That's just an aside; no bearing on the mystery cartridge we're discussing but it's great to hear that turntable again...

 

[jlecount]

Oh geez! I overlooked your point @mrwood200 ! --- i now see that it's NOT the same -- the one on the tonearm IS from the box, and the contents of the box is different -- namely, a MMC 20EN (presumably the original cartridge from when he bought the 4004) -- good eyes. So that explains it! Thank you!

 

[sound hound]

it almost looks like the needle is burned -- is that wear?

It could be a build up of vinyl particles. If you have some Magic Eraser, you could cut off a tiny sliver of it and gently brush the needle from the back to the tip and see if the black residue comes off.

 

[gary7]

It could be a build up of vinyl particles. If you have some Magic Eraser, you could cut off a tiny sliver of it and gently brush the needle from the back to the tip and see if the black residue comes off.

NO, don't brush it with the ME. You dip it. If you brush it the tiny barbs could break the tip off