needle for Edison LU-37

I know nothing much about antique phonographs and this is my first post. I have an Edison LU-37 phonograph that has been in my family since the 1920's. It works fine and I think it has good sound, but I am concerned about the needle. I suspect that it has the original, factory needle. I am wondering if I need a new needle , where can I get one, and how does one replace a needle. I looking at the reproducer, it is not at all obvious to me how to replace a needle. The existing needle seems very short and I don't know how to remove it. Thanks to everyone.

The standard test to see if a needle is in poor shape is to set the arm down in the shiny black surface either at the beginning or after the music gooves end and then see what it is doing..If you see no lines where the needle rotated for 10 or so revolutions then you probably at least have a needle that will not be damaging the records in any major way. If the records already are showing very distinct lines in the run off part then you may have an issue. Worse yet is if the needle is causing the grooves to look somewhat brownish when held to a strong light at an angle.. Anything like that is sure death to the records.

Many old needles will still work pretty good and show no damage to the records, but you need to test to see where your at. If its ok then I wouldn't worry too much about it. It cost upwards of 100.00 now to change that needle or even more. I would however if you want the machine to play and plan to keep it. I have a head here which does not show any damage to a record as stated above, but when compared to a brand new needle it will distort a bit on some notes because the original shape is worn enough to allow that. The main thing is damage.

Changing the needle your self if pretty much impossible if your not set up for it. You can buy the stylus bar that the needle is in and if your careful and handy you can drive the pin out of the reproducer weight and change the whole stylus. But that gets a bit complicated.. There are many things that may need to be looked at in the reproducer and the needle is but one.. Let us know what the needle is doing first.

One other thing you can do. Take some rubbing alcohol and thoroughly clean the diamond tip with it and a small brush or rag.. Over the years they can get a lot of dirt on them which can effect the sound.