Shure stylus ID

[kels83]

New-ish member, been doing light restorations on turntables that led me down the path of vintage stylus. I recently picked up a Garrard Lab 95 and to my surprise it came with 4 boxes of what look to be unused, but some opened, vintage Shure styluses (see pic). I was hoping one of you could help me confirm the model numbers.

• The one on the left came in the blue box labeled as N91ED, but it was opened. Is this the yellow HI-TRACK stylus correct to this box? The second N91ED box is still in the original cellophane and I don't want to open it to compare.
• The other 2 boxes had identical grey styluses that do not have outer boxes like the first two. But it came with a paper insert for a model 99 and both look just like that model to me. Does this look correct?
• Lastly, the table also came with the Dust Bug. Anyone have experience with one of these? I've never seen one before.

I have M44E, M72EJ, and V15 II Shure cartridges, but nothing that fits these new to me styluses. Once confirmed, I'm considering selling them vs. picking up a good cartridge for the ED styluses to try them out.

Thanks in advance!

 

[kels83]

The N91ED box with cellophane still has the price tag. $18.00 for a .0002" x .0007" elliptical stylus is crazy to me.

The foam inside the N99 (based on my research at least) had deteriorated to dust. The N91 box foam was still good. I wonder how old these are and what that $18 would be now with inflation. I'm aware these were mass produced back then.

 

[wualta]

Here's my guess:


No indication anywhere in Shure's literature that this is related to a "Model 99". Well, not in the more modern literature, but way back... see post #7!

 

[curtisw99]

my favorite Shures are M91 and M95
You can get n M91 really cheap on eb~y. I like the plastic housing M91, I don't like the clipped M91; just because the cartridge moves around in the clip. otherwise they sound the same

 

[kels83]

It does look like that. Here's what I was going off of in guessing N99. The paperwork actually has a picture.

 

[kels83]

And pics of the cartridge also look similar to the M33 you posted a picture of... Thank you for that picture!

 

[wualta]

Aha! There was indeed an old M99, but it came later and was a special M33 (basic specs are the same) on a sprung suspension for Garrard and Elac Miracord tables. The 1964 Shure catalog shows a photo of a cat about to futz with a tonearm. The M99 was supposed to allow you to be a cat-o-phile and an audiophile at the same time. A peek at the old days when such things were done.

Interestingly, the 1962 Shure phono catalog introduces the M33 as Shure's top cartridge. Shure also re-used the M99 name for the M99E p-mount.

 

[kels83]

The M99 was supposed to allow you to be a cat-o-phile and an audiophile at the same time. A peek at the old days when such things were done.

Hahahaha, nice!

I got these styluses with a Garrard Lab 95 so that checks out. You amaze me with your documentation!

 

[wualta]

Shure catalogs going back to 1929:

https://service.shure.com/s/article/vintage-shure-catalogs-1933-1984?language=en_US&region=en-US

I'm pleased Shure still has the phono catalogs included. For a while there, that phono stuff was disappearing from the site. There are still some big gaps.

 

[ronaldw441]

Shure phonograph stylus replacement guides
https://service.shure.com/s/article/Phonograph-stylus-replacement-guides?language=en_US

The 1982 and 1988-89 guides have photos of the various styli over most years

 

[Montycat]

I uploaded a similar guide that I scanned to our database here. I'll find a link.

 

[Montycat]

Here it is:

AK Database PDF Gallery - Shure/Shure Stylus Replacement Guide

 

[wualta]

I get a giggle out of the fact that Shure published both a Replacement Stylus Guide (1982) and a Stylus Replacement Guide (1988). They're both useful to have on hand.

Oh, the Dust Bug! British invention by Cecil Watts, whose company made many widely-sold record-care products from the late '50s onward. These days a more effective tool along the same lines uses something Watts couldn't get: carbon fiber bristles. The Bug's nylon bristles were stiff enough to audibly play the LP. Other than that, it worked.

 

[kels83]

Thanks guys, awesome info! It also helped me identify this Empire 8636ED as a part of the Shure N91 line. The back is blank, so I didn't know for certain.

Three styluses, no carts. I think i gota go hunting on da bay