Phonoland

Hi,Can someone tell me how to identify t needles are saphire or diamond.I've noticed they have either dots or circles painted on them in different colors and the needles themselves are either shiny or dark.Thanks

Homer,
Today, this is next to impossible, because there have been several companies that made "after market" needles that they claimed to have worked in theses cartridges. Unfortunately, none were as good ( one was "ALMOST")--some were awful, and others, if inserted into the cart., would destroy the cartridge !
If gen-u-whine, Pickering, made for Seeburg, the blue colored ones ( color did vary, somewhat, over the years), were sapphire. The pink and gray colored ones, were diamond.
There were several "color dots" used by the factory to indicate "matching sets". There were also un-dotted matching sets. Red colored plastic was used exclusively for background music machines.
In the aftermarket sets--anything went--diamond needles were often put on gray plastic holders, and vise-verse. Ron Rich

I've got some old original NOS pickering T needles in my stock box.
I think they're yellow, not sure, have to look one day.

Matt,
If NOS Pickerings--they are not the "T" needle. Seeburg/Pickerings were made with yellow plastic for the mono diamond series("Red-head" cartridge), and the last "wedge style", "low pressure", diamonds. "T", or first stereo style, were made in blue sapps, gray AND pink diamonds. Ron Rich

Hi Matt,

you have to check the tip of the needle.
Black tip = diamond
Clear tip = sapphire

With good eye sight it can be seen by itself, otherwise a magnifying lense will show it clearly.

Kind regards - Hildegard