A strange tonearm.

[epigramophone]

This otherwise uninteresting machine has one feature of note, a Gilbert "Serpent" tonearm.
Gilbert's "Bugle" tonearm is well known, but the "Serpent" is rarely seen. I do not think it would be kind to records.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KIRKWOOD-gra ... 1438.l2649

[Sidewinder]

Well at least they would not have been sued for infringing anyone else's tone-arm patent!

[Henry]

I do not think it would be kind to records.

A pity that an opportunity was missed here to correct the sound box angle! This thing must have a heck of a tracking error.

[Inigo]

Looking at the image, it doesn't seem to have a bad tracking angle, if the soundbox is simply twisted down to get the needle on the record, in that same position, it looks pretty parallel to the outer groove of a 12"... and the radius the tonearm back bracket axis, at first sight seems to be capable of keeping a good angle up to the end of the record...

[emgcr]

The offset (right-angle distance between the projected plane of the diaphragm and the tonearm bearing centre) looks to be reasonable---optimal 3 ¾ inches, other things being equal. The weight on the needle could well be excessive due to the long and heavy swinging section of the tonearm.

PS. After looking again, am I right in thinking that the tonearm turns over 180 degrees so that the soundbox plays on the left hand side of the turntable ? If so, what a very strange beast !

[Retrograde]

Reminds me of a hitch pin clip