Good observation! Perhaps we should be looking more at the uniformity, or not, of LPs as they leave the production plant? That would say more about why some are tighter-fitting than others. Still does not explain why they (records) all seem to fit without such a snugness on my Yamaha PX-3, Dual 1219, Nottingham Spacedeck....that Thorens spindle is only 1/1000" larger than the others then? Thanks for the specs, hope they are of use to the OP and sorry if the conversation drifted a bit OT....
