Micro Seiki

  Micro has made numerous arms, probably more so in Japan. The most popular imported here being the MA-505 pictured above. Dynamically balanced (like a Dual or Linn Ittok), this uses a coiled spring to apply stylus pressure. This is almost over engineered. Fairly massive, best suited to heavier cartridges.

Helius

                                      Helius is an English company that has remained dedicated to analog for a number of years. they have offered a few different arms, mostly upper end, very high quality. I still have this Scorpio, it has "eyes". Fixed headshell, no detachable cable, this is an arm you "commit to". Makes any 'table look better!

Grado

                                    Grado were famous in the '50s. for their wooden tone arm, this is the only other arm to my knowledge that they offered. The Grado Signature arm looks a bit like a roller coaster, with a huge downward sweeping tube that precluded the use of dustcovers on most 'tables. Loved this arm, and would still like to find another some day. In Joe Grado's infinite wisdom, I still remember the first words in the instruction manual- "Don't be Stupid"!

Audioquest PT

   Audioquest was/is basically a cable company, and the basic difference in the PT 4/ 5/ 6/ 9 was in the cable supplied. The 9 was slightly different, believe this was made for them by the same factory that made the Sumiko arms.

Audio Technica/Signet

Signet was the audiophile division of Audio Technica, and the brand never existed in other countries, all the Signet arms were branded Audio Technica. The two arms offered here were the XK-50 and XK-35. The AT-1009 (bottom picture) was a broadcast standard for many years, Available both in 9 and 12 inch versions (AT-1012). Never a huge fan of the Signets, I still have a 1009 , and really like it except for the pneumatic cueing. A separate manual "pump" connected to an air hose requires an additional hole to be drilled somewhere on the table. Otherwise, a great basic arm.

J. H. Formula IV

                     One of the classic unipivot designs, popular in the late '70s to early '80s. Once again, you needed a fairly low mass, high compliance cartridge to get the best results. Still have one of these in my spare arm box, not really sure what to do with it.........

Infinity Black Widow

                      Another '80s classic, this is the exact opposite of the Syrinx. The original was carbon fibre, the newer versions were graphite, which ended up being so brittle they snapped! This "spaghetti stick" double knife edge bearing was probably more competition for the SME III  than anything. Best with an extremely low mass high compliance cartridge, although many people at the time would put Denon 103 moving coils in them. This of course was a total mismatch.