The base: A hollow truncated cone, 2.75"h x 11 3/4"dia x 10 1/4"dia, 3/4" wall thickness, of brass, with 13 evenly spaced 2"+ round holes machined through the wall. Seven screw adjustable brass points in tapped holes at the webbing on the circumference for leveling and height adjustment. Weight: 9#.
The platter base: Six plies of 1/8" black vinyl linoleum floor tile laminated with contact cement to 1/4" clear acrylic, cut to 10 1/4" diameter with 1 1/4" hole bored in center for bearing/spindle assembly. Retained by four #10/32 screws at cardinal points through platter base to brass base. 1/4" dia hole for sensor/emitter drilled appropriately through linoleum/acrylic. Weight: approx. 10#
The motor and arm pods: Brass pipe reducing coupler, 4 1/2"d x 5 1/2"d x 5"h. 4 " hub by 5" street fitting with internal stop. The pods have two chambers, an upper and lower. The 4 1/2" Teres brass top plates are retained by bolts to central 4 1/2" round acrylic plates against the internal stop. The acrylic plates are drilled to match the top plate and retained by eight double nutted #10/32 x 3 1/2" black socket head bolts. The bottom cavity is enclosed by an additional acrylic plate, again drilled to match and secured by additional #10/32 socket head bolts attached to couplers on the ends of the top bolts. A 3/4" pipe nipple, lock nutted from each side of the acrylic plates provides conduit from the top chamber through the middle and bottom plates for electrical connections on both the motor and arm pods. The motor pod top is used as provided with the addition of two holes for indicator lights adjacent to the motor switch in the machined recess . The motor pod rests upon the bottom acrylic plate, supported by three hard rubber bottle stoppers. The bottom chamber is filled with approx. 10# of #6 lead shot. Total weight approx. 18#
The arm pod top as provided is drilled for mounting, but lacks the other machine work. A 1 1/2" hole was bored 3/4" off center for the arm column, along with two other auxiliary holes for other arm features. The arm pod bottom plate has three 1/4" holes drilled and tapped for pod height adjustment brass screws tipped with double nutted brass cap nuts. The bottom chamber is filled with approx. 10# of #6 lead shot. Total weight approx. 18#
The set up: All three assemblies rest on the surface plate. The motor pod's location relative to the turntable is determined by drive belt length. The arm pod location is determined by a brass spindle to pivot jig constructed for the purpose. The platter bearing is now lubricated with power steering fluid. Use of a record clamp is not anticipated, but a chamois mat is. It uses a 46" doubled dental floss belt.
The arm presently is a Sumiko Premier FT3, circa 1986, with a Sumiko Blue Point Special. I anticipate purchasing an Origin Live Rega RB250 w/counterweight mod and VTA adapter. The Rega arm will be rewired with Teflon insulated 36 ga. silver and silver cartridge clips. Eventually, I'll hardwire the cart to the phono stage. On recommendation, I'll likely also purchase a Dynavector 10X4 cartridge for use with my present transformers. I'll also pursue the listees' project with linear tracking arms. -- Peter