Caltrad D100 "Vibrating Reed" Cartridge.

[Sammcamos]

Well I just picked this up off Ebay out of pure curiosity. And well, it works, and actually it sounds absolutely wonderful for electric recorded 1930s-40s 78s, I think it gets a bit more musicality out of the record than say my GE V.R. II (another wonderful cartridge). That being said the VR II is excellent for later vinyl and vinylite 78s. Main things I'm wondering are, what type of cartridge would this be considered? I think its a fairly standard magnetic, though it has a humbucking coil design from what I've seen. And also, what would I try to do about replacing the stylus? Somehow "permanent metal" replaceable stylus seems to be an oxymoron, especially after 80 years.

 

[cafe latte]

Well I just picked this up off Ebay out of pure curiosity. And well, it works, and actually it sounds absolutely wonderful for electric recorded 1930s-40s 78s, I think it gets a bit more musicality out of the record than say my GE V.R. II (another wonderful cartridge). That being said the VR II is excellent for later vinyl and vinylite 78s. Main things I'm wondering are, what type of cartridge would this be considered? I think its a fairly standard magnetic, though it has a humbucking coil design from what I've seen. And also, what would I try to do about replacing the stylus? Somehow "permanent metal" replaceable stylus seems to be an oxymoron, especially after 80 years.
View attachment 3699737

Retip maybe, can you post a stylus picture?
Chris

 

[Sammcamos]

Retip maybe, can you post a stylus picture?
Chris

Here's a diagram out of a manual. Its almost like one of the old school screw in "needles," there's clearly some sort of black-ish tip material on the stylus. I suppose since it is just a standard groove stylus, I can probably use my usual check of those styli, being "is it sharp? and Is the tip uniform?" and call it a day.

 

[cafe latte]

Well I just picked this up off Ebay out of pure curiosity. And well, it works, and actually it sounds absolutely wonderful for electric recorded 1930s-40s 78s, I think it gets a bit more musicality out of the record than say my GE V.R. II (another wonderful cartridge). That being said the VR II is excellent for later vinyl and vinylite 78s. Main things I'm wondering are, what type of cartridge would this be considered? I think its a fairly standard magnetic, though it has a humbucking coil design from what I've seen. And also, what would I try to do about replacing the stylus? Somehow "permanent metal" replaceable stylus seems to be an oxymoron, especially after 80 years.
View attachment 3699737

Retip maybe, can yo

Here's a diagram out of a manual. Its almost like one of the old school screw in "needles," there's clearly some sort of black-ish tip material on the stylus. I suppose since it is just a standard groove stylus, I can probably use my usual check of those styli, being "is it sharp? and Is the tip uniform?" and call it a day. View attachment 3700017

They still get wear flats on the sides, the tip can be rotated 180 degrees and it will be like new again.
Chris

 

[catBot]

Correction necessary: 90°.

 

[Panamafred]

Tracks at 1 ounce!

Bad ass I'd like to try one too, thanks for sharing your findings : )