Well I sanded the hell out of it with 240g paper, then 600 g paper, then oiled it and put it back together and it works fine. Other than the ugly little Phillips head screws I had to use to secure the base it looks and works great! Thanks to all.

I had noticed that earlier; he seems awfully optimistic with that opening bid.

Scratch that earlier post; Iwas able to slip the base off the end with a lotta tugging and twisting. So I sanded her throughly including the sides of the two flat washers and put it back together and... it still binds. What to try now? A parts phono? Or keep sanding?

Well a little oil didn't work. So I carefully drilled out the rivets and took the tone arm off and find that the pot metal base is secured to the base of the steel arm with a c clip and is flanged at the end. This base was attached above the flange and slid down, then the rest of the arm was welded ...

The lock nut that separates the two halves of the tone arm is halfway up; mine won't track with the record; i.e., move laterally. I need to somehow lube the base of the tone arm where it swivels. These pics should give you an idea of what I'm trying to say. http://home.neo.rr.com/dstreb/birch2.jpg h...