Bill - it's a switch between the two different needle types. Most cobra arms only accepted one needle at a time, but this variant is unusual in that it has a provision for a dual needle cartridge. The rarity is why I'm returning mine to its original setup. Chris - I'm almost certain they intentional...

One last post just to close the loop on this. I'm putting it here since I had mentioned adding it in the past and don't want anyone who finds this thread in the future to come away empty handed. I'm attaching a few photos of the tonearm mechanism. I'm glad I didn't have to recreate it. From what I c...

Wholeheartedly agreed. This has ballooned.

Don't apologize, Bill! I'm sorry if I came across as feeling spoken over. I only clarified that point because I've seen that hard cutoff like you mentioned come up quite a bit, and it's been a point of confusion for me. I'm throwing my own guess into the air based on what I've seen on my unit, but I...

The ceramic cartridge, whether mono or stereo, showed up when Zenith started using VM changers with a custom Cobra tone arm. And yes, it had the snake like head. Bill I think there was some overlap, actually. If I'm understanding my history correctly, the VM changers are a fairly obvious departure ...

That would require a non-cobra cartridge though, wouldn't it? I don't think they made stereo cobra cartridges, so I'd have to change all the mounting hardware and whatnot. I'm trying to preserve this in a factory new state, so if that precludes stereo, it just won't be a stereo machine. I'm okay wit...

Just wanted to pose an updated, since Hi-Fi-Mogul had asked for references and whatnot. I'm still tearing into the parts table to get the tonearm off, but I have learned that the correct cartridge for this model is a Pfanstiehl 992, which is still readily available from VM Audio Enthusiasts. I paid ...

I'm not sure. I keep seeing the radionic/ceramic switchover date as 1954, but my unit clearly has a 1953 build date on it and doesn't seem to have the extra oscillator tube needed to drive a radionic cartridge. It's not been modified either, save for the mounting hardware, the tube layout sticker is...

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in the same boat hahaha.

I believe I see the corner of a vintage TV in your photo too. That'd be my 1966 GE PortaColor. Fully restored, and I've been building a home TV transmitter setup so I can broadcast multiple channels without relying on a converter box. I am all too familiar with the risks of collecting hahaha. My of...

I do. I'm somewhat in the process of restoring it - right now I'm looking for information about the original cartridge mounting hardware so I can reproduce it. Mine is missing the LP/78 switch mechanism and I'd like to restore it. I included this photo on another post I submitted but I'll add it her...

Found it! Took me a minute to find a photo that fit the dimension requirements. I should have everything set up correctly, now!

Hey! Sorry to revive a dead thread. I'm looking for some information on the tone arm on the unit you all were discussing. It's extremely unique and I happen to be working with the same one. I've got a Zenith Cobramatic with the same stroboscope turntable in this thread that I'm gathering parts for. ...

Hello! Glad to stumble onto a lively vintage electronics community. I'm Josh - I'm a professional copywriter and with a long background in mid century electronic and appliance collecting. Vintage kitchen equipment, televisions, radios, pretty much anything you can plug into a wall and switch on so l...