Needle replacement for vintage Magnavox record player.

[staci.m.chas]

So I got this cool old record player and I need a needle for it. I've done the usual Google searches and came up empty. Is there any chance someone here can help out? I need to know what needle to buy and where to get it. Check images

 

[rot26]

It is most likely a ceramic cartridge, you may have some luck here: https://www.turntableneedles.com/magnavox-model-1st2960-legacy-phono-pickup-ev-26-magnavox-1st2960

 

[staci.m.chas]

Thanks!!!

 

[Catmanboo]

Micromatic turntable in a Maggie suitcase, oooh nice!
Good advice from @rot26. Hope they have one, you'll need any data ready from whatever cartridge you have to get a match. Double-sided stylus, 33-78 (styli) very common during the era this unit was made.

 

[Dswankey]

.., you'll need any data ready from whatever cartridge you have to get a match. Double-sided stylus, 33-78 (styli) very common during the era this unit was made.

Agreed!! I blew up the Pic of the cart I can see the numerals 26 and what looks like a logo of some sort

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Cartridge is either Astatic or most likely EV (their Newport, Tennessee factory was near Magnavox's Greenville, Tennessee factory). Gary Stork at www.thevoiceofmusic.com can help you with a stylus.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Yes, the cartridge on your Magnavox is an EV (Electro-Voice) 26. So, this will help you with finding a new replacement stylus. Great picture, very helpful information.

 

[tom3]

Couple I've picked up over the years. They last just about forever seems like.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Couple I've picked up over the years. They last just about forever seems like. View attachment 3524376

Diamonds aren't forever, by the way. I average a new stylus every 10-12 months (and this is magnetic cartridges tracking around 1.75 grams at that). Cheaper to replace styli as needed than a record collection.

 

[tom3]

Wrong item. ]

 

[Lavane]

All of the first stack of albums I bought when I was young were ruined on a console turntable using a ceramic cartridge. I even spent my own lawn mowing money on a new stylus too. Many of those old turntables were more of a record grinder than record player.

 

[Catmanboo]

Many of those old turntables were more of a record grinder than record player.

Yep, just picture an old-style hand-cranker with a steel needle mounted in a "tonearm" weighing a half-pound gouging away on a shellac-based 78.

 

[Catmanboo]

All of the first stack of albums I bought when I was young were ruined on a console turntable using a ceramic cartridge. I even spent my own lawn mowing money on a new stylus too. Many of those old turntables were more of a record grinder than record player.

Did it have the obligatory nickel taped or glued onto the tone arm head to assist tracking when stylus & records were shot?

 

[Lavane]

Did it have the obligatory nickel taped or glued onto the tone arm head to assist tracking when stylus & records were shot?

No, just the heavy handed tone arm it came with. Who knows what the aniti- skate was like. After getting my own turntable and stereo equipment I didn't have an issue with excessive grove wear. I still have a few of the albums I bought after getting that turntable.
Ive seen pictures of consoles where the original turntable was replaced with a more modern one. They added a phono preamp and plugged them into the aaux input of the console. I even saw one where someone added a switch so they could switch between the turntable and tuner since no aux input was available. Records are expensive these days.
The original turntable can be pulled and saved if you wish. You just plop a new one over the hole left by the original TT.

 

[tom3]

The Magnavox changers that I've looked into usually had about 3 grams tracking, and I suppose the little brush takes some of that off too. probably how they could advertise the 10 year stylus. That changer doesn't seem to wear records.

 

[Doug G.]

The pictured cartridge does not have a flip over stylus. The whole cartridge gets flipped over and thus, uses separate styli for 33/45 and 78.

Also, records were ruined more by not keeping a good stylus in the cartridge rather than from the tracking forge. People would buy a record player. play hundreds of records, and never change the stylus over the life of the player, just asking for record damage.

My records from the sixties, most of which were played on a VM changer and 5-6 grams of tracking force, are still fine because I always changed the stylus at prescribed intervals.

Doug