Is this turntable what I think it is?

[MRL_Audio]

Even the Vestigal arm looks like a prototype. Head is silver vs the more familiar black as posted by @E-Stat .

 

[Mystic]

Thank you. Yes I see the resemblance but at closer look no I think transcriptor.

It's a Transcriptor Skeleton ... maybe w/ some modifications. Sheesh, one doesn't run into these every day ... then or now. Wow ... a very nice gift from your father.

 

[Pio1980]

Could well be. It was an inexpensive arm in the 70s. Bought mine for < $130 if I recall.


Much like with our Southers. Which I've always considered a "linear Vestigal".

The Souther is less so than an ET-2 for zero drift.

 

[E-Stat]

The Souther is less so than an ET-2 for zero drift.

After 37 years, I finally gave mine a proper dust cover. Better late than never.

 

[JoacimS]

Even the Vestigal arm looks like a prototype. Head is silver vs the more familiar black as posted by @E-Stat .

You are right. I’ll try and see if I kind spot all the “differences” from the more familiar one.

 

[JoacimS]

You are right. I’ll try and see if I kind spot all the “differences” from the more familiar one.

I also see that the base where the arm is fixed has no black plastic. Only metal there as well

 

[JoacimS]

New findings with differences to the more familiar skeleton:
- There are more “buttons” on the top left platform
- the “foundation” of the arm is all metallic
- there is a water-balancer on the circular table

 

[AudioFeline]

Thank you lavane. Just so I understand:
1. What is an ortofon
2. So you don’t think it’s a transcriptor, rather some other brand?

Ortofon is a Danish manufacturer/design company of tonearms and cartridges/styli. They have been an innovative company and produced some very highly-regarded products. The post you are referring to indicates that your turntable arm has an Ortofon "OM" series cartridge attached. These are a good quality cartridge, but at the lower quality range.

 

[JoacimS]

Got new info directly from Michael Gammon, David Gammons son.
Great to have the answers to the questions.


Quote:
“The skeleton you have was originally intended for the US market. My dad had issues with the spyder chassis warping in the US climate as they had not cured properly. So dad had to come up with a soloution and came up with the T - Section that you have. Once the problem had been resolved in the US he went back to the original black spyder design.
As for the vestigal arm, the black anodized versions were for the US and the aluminum versions for the rest of the work.”

And regarding the number of pieces made:
Quote:
“They were only made in low numbers as this was a fix for the original problem. I have one here on the bench for restoration which belongs to my brother.”