Phonoland

I don't have a means to tak a picture, but I found an odd thing in my vv-vi. I opened it up and a metal part was at the bottom. It is about an inch long with one end rounded off. The other end comes in at a straight edge and then extends and tapers down to a fine point. However, the pictures of tungs-tone needles I have seen have a rounded edge with a "wire" sticking out of the middle.

What do I have?

Also, every picture of a tungs-tone has made it look like there is no way it could fit in the needle holder on the reproducer. Have I just seen poor picture? I know this thing I have has no way to fit in a reproducer.

Thanks!

Reading over your post again I've no idea what it is you've found. I originally thought it might be a spear tip needle, but then, it would fit in the opening of the sound box. It sounds like a small knife or some type of tool used with an attachable handle.

A tungsten tipped needle, as you noted, normally has a wire-thin tip protruding out of a rounded base. The other end of the needle will, indeed, fit a conventional Victrola needle bar, since it is about the same diameter as a steel loud tone needle.
The tip of a tungsten needle is not tapered. It is about the same diameter as the record groove and was designed to wear to conform to the V-shaped groove-bottom after a few turns of the record. Because the tip is relatively soft, compared to steel, it can be removed and used again. (The tip is then re-ground to conform to the shape of the groove.) Normally, a new old stock tungsten tipped needle will play about 40-60 sides before the tip is too short to reach the bottom of the groove.

There are collectors who insist that tungsten needles cause more wear than steel tipped ones, since they leave deposits of the tip behind as they are ground to fit the groove. Most collectors I've known have a few packs in their collections, but seldom use them.

JDS

Well, the end isn't knife-like. It is like a sharp cone. I feel like it must be a part of some sort, but my phonograph works fine and there is no odd empty spot on the motor or anything.

Does it look anything like any of the needles pictured below?

Imagine the second from the right, with the main body the same diameter as the widest part of the cone, with the other end (the non-tip end) round. Also, this picture looks like the very tip is different from the rest of it. This piece is all the same metal. I feel it must be a part of some sort, but I don't know what.
Also, it is probably larger in diameter than the needls you are posting.

What an odd thing I've found...

The support post from the tonearm's back bracket?

SEE -- http://www.flickr.com/photos/bmj/3965881945/

Well, I guess that answers that. Thanks for the help. But how did it get in there....