In the early days of the pick-up the lifting of the arm was done manually with an extension on the right hand side of the head-shell. But as the change from the ceramic carts to the more sensitive magneto-dynamic carts took place, the arm lift as a separate mechanism became a standard feature on most decks.

Both claim to have designed for and worked with Stanley Kubrick on his 2001-A space Odyssey movie culminating in the moment that the movie was shown for a select audience where John Michell said “Look, that’s my turntable” whereas David Gammon, also present, said “I’m sorry but it’s not. It’s mine”. Fact is that the turntable used in Clockwork Orange (1971) was definitely a Gammon 1964 built HR, which gives a little more credit to David’s side of the story.

Granddaddy, the Reference 63
No pitch control (wet or dry) visible, unless it’s the knob on the right hand side of the strobewheel, which M.J. claimed was a clutch. Arm appears to be a 10” with the cylindrical arm lift and 2 sliding and 1 rotating counterweight.

So here’s when we’re on the move again, this time it concerns an early Michell with an SME mounted. Saves me the draining of the cup in a Liquids arm house, now it’s just the “donut” bassin. But, as I do not, and repeat, do not trust cargohandlers enough with real fragile things, it has to go as cabin luggage. And that means a 45 cm by 40 cm by 25cm restriction – if it don’t fit it won’t fly (with you)- and the deck itself is already 44 by 42 by 15 cm. So I have to come up with a nice packaging which is reopenable as I know the curiosity and inquiring if not investigating tendencies from our Schiphol airport security.