So I have another post where I talk about resurrecting a Motorola Console.
here viewtopic.php?f=6&t=347081

I had talked to Gary at VoM and the headshell and cartridge were integrated and supplied by SonoTone, and to top it off were a one year deal.

He came up with an alternative that would work, that involves putting tape around the mounting part of the new headshell to make it fit. However I have other problems now...

All of the metal pieces have a light coat of rust, and require cleaning. I used the lightest means I could (Paper towels and Windex) and wherever the rust is the gold (or whatever) plating comes off. Where there is no rust it wont come of with any amount of scrubbing (Even with magic eraser).

Needless to say I am disappointed.

So now I'm looking for an alternative.
It's a B1265 changer, so to my knowledge any 1200 series changers should fit.

Will anything else fit without having to modify the mounting area?

Is there a "Better" solution to my turntable issues?

I've already put far more effort into a console I don't even know what I'm going to do with, but I can't just leave it unfinished. It might just end up a Garage Radio, LoL...

We were going to put it in the house, and halfway through my work the Missus found one she likes better. Go figure.

At least if everything works I won't feel bad passing it on recapped and all systems working.

Below are the issues I'm working with.

1200 series changers are common, there must have been millions of them produced for many different manufacturers.

You should have no trouble finding one in good condition. If everything else is good, I believe that you can easily replace the record support overarm and the entire tone arm including rear pivot plate with ones from a different version of the 1200 changer.

That doesn't look like rust, it looks like some other form of oxidation that forms on metal parts. I have also seen plenty of them that were in the homes of heavy smokers where the metal parts get some sort of darkened coating on them that causes similar issues to what yours looks like after years of storage.

Yes, you can change the tonearm and overarm from another VM changer that has a ceramic cartridge. For that matter, you can change out the entire changer, another 1200 series will go right in place.

Gary might actually have the replacement tonearm and record stabilizer arm. But, it depends on how much work you want to do. The changer will have to be completely stripped down and repainted

Yeah, I've cleaned up two 1200 series changers before and they both worked quite well. But stripping + repainting + replacing tonearm is a little much for this particular unit.

It's a shame about the oxidation, whatever they used to plate the metal arms to look gold obviously didn't stand up to the environment so well.

I'll have to start hitting up the usual places looking for a changer. Ordering one online is tough, as the shipping is usually more than the changer itself.

I'll keep this one in the attic for parts, mechanically its in pretty good shape...

I've got a spare Motorola changer that is either similar or identical to yours, want it? If I got enough to cover shipping and a couple extra bucks, I would be thrilled. Don't know the condition of the cartridge.