Magnetic cartridge total failure ?

by **Ron Rich** » Sat Sep 24, 2016 7:24 pm

Hi All,

Ran into something I have never seen before, and I'z wondering what could have caused it ?
Found a totally open Pickering/Seeburg 340 cartridge, yesterday. Any ideas ? I can see another type failing in such a manor, but not a "magnetic"?. Ron Rich

MattTech · by **MattTech** » Sat Sep 24, 2016 8:22 pm

Ron Rich wrote:Hi All,

Ran into something I have never seen before, and I'z wondering what could have caused it ?
Found a totally open Pickering/Seeburg 340 cartridge, yesterday. Any ideas ? I can see another type failing in such a manor, but not a "magnetic"?. Ron Rich

Sometimes Ron, but very rarely, the coil connecting wires corrode (dampness), or the connector block is loose, causing broken wires.
OR...
Someone got into the thing, and putzed around with it.
These are hair-fine wires, you know.

Another thing is if thecartridge was stupidly connected to a voltage source of some kind, and fried the coils.

by **Ron Rich** » Sun Sep 25, 2016 1:06 am

Hi Mattie,
Yep--I looked for the posts being loose--OK. I look as I have seen "people, bend" them because they were making poor contact ( a HUGE NO-NO!), but these appear not to have been touched. As for moisture--sorta doubt it as the phono is in an apartment, where it has resided for the last 20 years ?? As for hi voltage--I can't see how--the amp was/is fine ? Ron Rich