The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I picked up a gold tone Ultona arm for my Brunswick 117 this summer at Union.

But when I [finally!] went to swap it out for my broken (small chip out of bottom) one which was missing 99% of its gold tone, I noticed the back elbow has a subtle difference: the "new" one does not have the screw on the top of the elbow.

Both are pictured below. I plan to use the "new" gold one just because it looks nicer and appears that it will function the same (and it is not broken like my "old" one), but...

Does anyone know which is original for posterity?

(And what might the function of that screw be?)

(And... anyone have a lead for a stylus for the DD side of the Ultona reproducer? Both diamonds are damaged!)

Thanks for any advise!

-Schlick

The arm without the screw is brass, the other is pot-metal. Btw, the patent for that arm includes a "trough" in the base, which "is partly filled with liquid, preferably oil, and prevents any escape of air"

HI,
I am sure Steve Medved can install at least a new DD stylus and might be able to help with the other as well.
Allen

I have a 117 in oak, with the same motor-plate as yours, and it has the pot-metal arm, with that pivot "knuckle" and screw at the top.

I have a couple of other arms, and there are slight variations in the screw-size for the mounting flange... ( I think earlier versions use wood-screws into the deck, and later ones use machine screws into a threaded-plate underneath.)

You should be able to swap a complete arm and flange ( but not mix the pieces of the different styles ), but check the mounting carefully - I would not want to make a permanent change to the machine itself to accommodate a different arm.


Good luck !