Need a record cartridge

Hello,

have a Truetone D1173 readio/78 plter/recorder. The radio and 78 player work great. I was able
to record - barely - a local station on a blank RECORDIO disc but the quality was so poor I could barely discern what was being recorded. Although I can't vouch for the quality of the disc I'm wondering if there is an issue with the record cartridge being so old that it doesn't function anymore and needs a replacement or I need to get the actridge fixed.

The record cartridge has the following markings (see also the images I took)

SHURE MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD
Type: 96-11B (it could be a "D" at the end)

I am aware of West Tech Services and may use them but they only offer repair, but before i do that I am wondering if there is a replacement cartridge I can buy?

David

I used to have the same kind of equipment, with the same problems.

Usually the quality problem came from trying to cut too deep. The depth had to be adjusted for each blank, because the blank thickness varied more than the groove was deep. Some of the blanks I had were as thick as a regular 78, and others were only 1/32 inch thi8ck.

The second problem is that, according to the instructions, the cutting stylus wore out and had to be replaced after each recording.

Remember that the recording head is a large crystal. Do not move the stylus by hand, or you can break it.

Any hum in the amp0lifier will also cause a lot of distortion in the recording that does not sound like hum.

Note also that no pre-emphasis was placed on recordings made with these amateur machines. So they were always bass heavy and treble deficient.