Abstract: An improved tone arm mounting system, for improved damping of tone arm system (100) vibrations. Tone arm system (100) is supported by tone arm pedestal (106). Adjuster screw (301) is affixed to the bottom of tone arm pedestal (106) so that adjuster screw axis of revolution (309) passes through or near tone arm system weight center of gravity (310). Adjuster screw (301), by threaded means, rotatably receives adjuster wheel (302), which is thin and is large in diameter, for easy access to its outer edge for manual or mechanical operation. Rotation of adjuster wheel (302) on adjuster screw (301) changes the height of tone arm pedestal (106) and thereby changes VTA (110). The tone arm system (100) is supported by arm board (206) without vertical connection to arm board (206) thereby damping mechanical vibrations and improving signal quality.

Abstract: A phonograph cover is coupled to a tone arm assembly such that movement of the cover to its open position automatically retracts the needle of the tone arm assembly from the record in any selected position of the tone arm assembly on the record playing portion of the record. Movement of the cover to its closed position automatically causes the needle to engage the record in any selected position of the tone arm assembly on the record playing portion of the record.The tone arm assembly is further coupled to the phonograph turntable drive means such that the drive means is actuated upon movement of the tone arm assembly onto the record playing portion of the record. The drive means is deactuated upon movement of the tone arm assembly to a rest position located outside of the playing portion of the record.

Abstract: A linear tracking tone arm having a stylus is pivotably mounted on a carriage slidably movable along a guide rod and has a hook extending in operative engagement with a pin on a swing arm slidably movable with the carriage along the guide rod. The guide rod is angularly movable about its own axis to turn the swing arm for lifting or lowering the linear tracking tone arm. A mechanism for turning the guide rod includes a solenoid, a plunger actuatable thereby, a cam pivotably movable by the plunger, and a rotation control arm coupled with the guide rod and held in engagement with the cam. The carriage supports thereon a guide frame for guiding a pin extending from the tone arm to cancel a tracking error when the stylus is led into the lead-out groove on a record disc.

Abstract: A record player having a pick-up arm which is automatically moved to the rest position by a spring, the energy necessary for returning the arm being stored by the lowering device of the arm. A rotating cam which lowers the arm also moves one end of an over-center spring-loaded lever, whose far end is guided such that before the arm is fully lowered the lever passes a dead center position. Motion past dead center causes a pin on the lever to move into position in which subsequent lever return, due to the loading spring, rotates the arm to the rest position.

Abstract: For use with a phonograph turntable unit having a tone arm and means for lifting the tone arm to a cueing position spaced above the plane of the turntable, a cueing apparatus for laterally positioning the tone arm with respect to the turntable comprising a flag depending from the rearward end of the tone arm and a helical cam spring mounted beneath the flag. The spring is carried so as to engage the flag in the raised position of the tone arm and spaced from the flag in the lowered tone arm position so as to permit free lateral movement of the tone arm in such lowered position. The cam spring is coupled as by cables and/or shafts to an operator knob adjacent the forward edge of the turntable so as to be adapted for manual positioning of the tone arm at a desired lateral position.

Abstract: A mechanism for retracting a stylus from engagement with the surface of a video disc record. A lever arm arranged parallel to the stylus arm and normally biased to a first position has a filament attached to a free end thereof, the filament being normally disposed to straddle and engage the stylus carrying arm proximate to the stylus to lift and hold the stylus from the record surface. A force which is selectively imparted to the lever arm pivots the lever arm to a second position permitting disengagement of the filament and stylus arm permitting the stylus to engage the record.

Abstract: A recording device featuring simplicity of design operative with a movable planar recording medium is formed as a unitary lever assembly having a first arm with a stylus mounted thereon and a second arm actuated to effect rotation of the lever assembly about a mounting axle to effect recording operation. The mounting of the lever assembly on the axle includes a rectangular slot which permits tilting movement of the lever assembly laterally of the mounting axle to permit the stylus to be lifted from the recording medium.