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Thread: Can anyone identify this arm and cartridge ?

  1. #1
    Join Date: Jan 2021

    Location: Sheffield, UK

    Posts: 7
    I'm Martin.

    Default Can anyone identify this arm and cartridge ?

    Sorry if this is a silly question, but I have recently inherited my late Dads HiFi setup and am having problems identifying this arm and cartridge. Does anyone have any suggestions ? There are no visible names on either the arm or the cartridge, but the arm seems to pivot on three axes and is mounted on a home made plinth with a Garrard 301 turntable.











    Apologies for the lack of pictures... the codes seem to be in the raw message ! Maybe I'm not allowed to post pictures until after a certain post count...

    Here are some links as an alternative..

    https://ibb.co/Y83kLZr

    https://ibb.co/5vPYYKT

    https://ibb.co/khBQZSr

    https://ibb.co/F7zXTVJ

    https://ibb.co/mqZmzfm

  2. #2
    Join Date: Aug 2016

    Location: Suffolk

    Posts: 49
    I'm Charlie.

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    Hi, the arm might be a Hadcock but not sure which model. Cart is a Decca and well regarded, I'd love to hear one! Very nice TT combo. Looks like your Dad favoured a leather mat on the 301, I wonder if he experimented much, suggests he might have enjoyed doing a bit of tweaking. I also favour a leather mat on these. Ah, just re-read your post and noticed plinth is also self-built, a man after my own heart. I hope you enjoy it!

  3. #3
    Join Date: Oct 2010

    Location: Devizes, Wiltshire.

    Posts: 1,446
    I'm Nigel.

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    The arm looks like a later Hadcock 228, cartridge is probably a Decca. I’m sure Geoff or Barry, will be along shortly to confirm.
    The arm will need the droopy stub rubber replaced to perform at it’s best, otherwise it is a very capable arm once set up.

    Nigel

  4. #4
    Join Date: Jan 2021

    Location: Sheffield, UK

    Posts: 7
    I'm Martin.

    Default

    Many thanks Chas, will see if I can chase this down...

    Yes, he would spend many happy hours tweaking and comparing and fiddling. I shudder to think what what he spent on his HiFi over the decades ! This is the analogue front end system in its final iteration:

    https://ibb.co/wS4JWdx
    https://ibb.co/zZ2pPk4

    The units below the turntable [from top to bottom] are a valve based RIAA stage / preamp, a valve based stabilised power supply for the preamp stage. On the floor to the left is the turntable power supply and a spare Meridian 504 tuner.

  5. #5
    Join Date: Jan 2021

    Location: Sheffield, UK

    Posts: 7
    I'm Martin.

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    Thanks for confirming Nigel. Please excuse my ignorance, but which bit is the stub rubber thats drooping ?

  6. #6
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by vinylspinner View Post
    The arm looks like a later Hadcock 228, cartridge is probably a Decca. I’m sure Geoff or Barry, will be along shortly to confirm.
    The arm will need the droopy stub rubber replaced to perform at it’s best, otherwise it is a very capable arm once set up.

    Nigel
    Yup, exactly that: https://images.search.yahoo.com/sear...g&action=click

    Or a GH242. The cartridge looks like a Decca Gold.

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

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  7. #7
    Join Date: May 2019

    Location: Co.Durham

    Posts: 84
    I'm Frank.

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    The GH242 variants had a stainless steel arm tube.

    It's a 228 Super D-Type/E-Type/Export. Which goes back to the late 70s.

    The rear stub which carries the counterweight is loose - or the rubber insert in the counterweight is at fault. I got one last year the same and it was the stub, which I re-glued.

    Rear Stub.jpg
    Last edited by Columbo; 23-01-2021 at 22:10.

  8. #8
    Join Date: Jan 2009

    Location: Essex

    Posts: 31,846
    I'm openingabottleofwine.

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    It is one of the several 228 variants. Depending on when it was bought it could be the GH228 Super (from 1979), the GH228E with integral lift/lower mecanism (from 1980) or the GH228 Export (from 1982):

    Hadcock GH 228 technical specifications
    Type : Unipivot. Overall armtube length : 289.6 mm (Export 307.34 mm). Effective length : 228.6 mm. Arm mount type : hole. Mount hole size : 15.87 mm. Height above mount : 43 ~ 90 mm. Pivot stem length : 86.4 mm. Pivot to platters centre : 212.85 mm (pre ca 78 models 212.80). Offset angle : 23°. Rear overhang : 60.09 mm. Adjustments available : Headshell angle, overhang, arm height, tracking weight, lateral balance, anti-skate and lift position. Bearing friction : 6mg. Tracking force : 0 ~ 5 grams. Pickup mount type : Standard 1/2 inch. Cartridge mass : 3 ~ 12 grams (14 grams with an optional 90 gram counterweight). RRP : 36 UKP (228 Super 1976), 98.90 UKP (228E 1981), 78.20 (228 Export 1982).

    The cartridge is undoubtedly a Decca Mk. VI (also known as the Decca 'Gold') fitted with an elliptical stylus - but it could be a Decca 'Super Gold': a Decca Gold fitted with a Van den Hul stylus. The 'prow' of the body of the 'Super Gold' differs very slightly (I think it is a little blunter) from that of the 'Gold'; but it is impossible to tell from the photograph. Either way, they are both excellent cartridges used with an ideal pickup arm.
    Barry

  9. #9
    Join Date: May 2019

    Location: Co.Durham

    Posts: 84
    I'm Frank.

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    First version I had was a Super D-Type Export, which was had in the late 70s. Looked exactly the same.

    In real terms, the design hasn't changed after the plug & socket were adopted and the carrier also accommodated the lift/lower device. Well, apart from the E-Type, which, for a time, had lateral weights for balance when the elliptoid-fitting counterweight was done away with in favour of a central-fitting counterweight. At some point the typical elliptoid version returned.

    Sent from my CUBOT_NOTE_S using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Join Date: Jan 2021

    Location: Sheffield, UK

    Posts: 7
    I'm Martin.

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    Many thanks indeed to Barry and all who answered... I am in awe of your knowledge of such things.

    I have recently found the pickup cartridge box in the house and it is indeed a Decca cartridge - the 'Super Gold' version apparently.

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