Mayware Formula 4 Mk II PLS4/d unipivot NOS

New Old Stock MAYWARE FORMULA 4 MKII PLS4/D UNIPIVOT TONEARM:

The tonearm is a drop in substitute for the Lenco turntables and provides a very good match on all counts. The movable arm wand weight allows for adjustment of the effective mass to match a wide variety of cartridges of high to medium compliance. If you have a 30+ compliance cartridge then this is one of the few arms that can accommodate it.

This tonearm has never been mounted nor fully assembled. The picture of the assembled arm is of someone else�s arm. Though I have the little manual and mounting template, I am not sure where it is. Documentation is available at vinyl engine. The box has scuffs and nicks from moving it from one shelf to another over the years. This arm was purchased a decade ago as NOS for a future Lenco project since the arm is a drop in replacement for the stock arm, though I did obtain a Lenco, I have moved to Technics 205c integrated headshell cartridges and can not use them on this tonearm.

One of the first modern silicone damped unipivot tone arm designs, and a great success in its day. Capable of great results due to its low friction and very good tracking. A �Laboratory Variable Mass Silicone Damped Pick-Up Arm�. Made in England.

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Description from the original manual.
A properly damped pick-up arm and cartridge combination has these advantages: lowest possible pivot friction, better tracking of warped records, greater immunity to shock and vibration, reduced high frequency playback distortion, cleaner reproduction of low frequency information and the sound has a tape-like consistency with dramatically solidified stereo images and near-pin point localisation. The damping fluid serves two purposes: First, it reduces whatever friction there is in the pivot; second, it drastically reduces the effect of sudden large movements on the motion of the arm, but the smaller slower movements necessary for accurate tracking even on warped records are not interfered with. This selectivity is pivot damping's most desirable feature. With current low friction designs a single shock can engender movements that might take minutes to die away naturally. Something else is needed, like a shock absorber, to stop the bounce quickly. Viscous silicone damping does the job. Because it does, the cartridge will convert far less of the arm�s movement into unwanted electrical output and that means less distortion. In addition, because damping reduces or nearly eliminates subsonic resonances matching an arm to cartridge becomes simpler.
Furthermore record wear is reduced due to the suppression of instantaneous tracking force extremes. Viscous pivot damping is absolutely essential for perfect stereo CD-4, UD-4 matrix, quadraphony and provides greatly reduced listening fatigue, enables all cartridges to reach their Linear Region of best performance.
The Formula4 pick-up arm has been designed to obtain the best possible reproduction from both ultra high or low compliance cartridges, consequently the music will be far more realistic dependent only on the particular cartridge used and the recording quality of the record being played.
Specifications
Effective length: 224mm
Mounting distance: 209 to 215mm
Mounting hole: 25mm
Pivot friction: less than 5mg in any plane
Effective mass: low and variable
Pivot: inverted hardened steel pin pivoting on a jewelled bearing damped by viscous silicone fluid
Tracking force: 0 to 3g is achieved with a small cursor which slides along the calibrated aluminium tube.
As stylus compliance increases less effective mass is required; less compliant stylus assemblies require more effective mass than highly compliant assemblies do.
Generally, low compliance cartridges require more tracking force than high compliance cartridges. Thus, the cursor of the arm increases slightly effective mass of the arm and stylus at the same time.
Bias compensation: Adjustable to correspond with tracking force, provided by variable weights applying torque around the alloy and perspex hub in the correct horizontal plane in relation to the pivot point, ensuring complete stability.
Hydraulic lift and cueing device: an oil-damped device, fully adjustable for correct cueing
Static low frequency response: The fundamental resonance will vary according to stylus compliance.

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