[78-L] Winged RCA tonearm was [Got one of these in your attic?)

[George Epple]

 Many of you do not know me... but I have restored many early 
magnetic pickups over the past 40 (wow! I'm getting old) years. The RCA "tonearm wings" as we're now describing them, were an attempt to extend 
frequency response and reduce distortion in the RE models. Having rebuilt many pickups from 
these models, the reproducer is basically the very same that accompany 
the slightly earlier, non-winged tonearms. Some of the pickups 
manufactured during this era however do contain a mechanical "filter" 
that helps reduce surface noise... but the pickup construction is the 
same otherwise. The tonearm wings were designed to make the tonearm 
appear more fixed in regards to the motions imparted into the stylus and
 pickup armature by adding mass. There are weights attached to the underside of the "wing tips". Less energy is lost going down the 
tonearm and more directed into the pickup armature assembly. I do 
believe that this is the reason for the "winged" tonearm. I suspect that
 there's a patent describing the claim.
  I enjoy this group very much!!!  Going back to lurk mode.... 

George Epple