Anti-Skate dial-How to set it? + a bonus question

Are you guys saying that the mass of the cartridge, varying from one to another, has no effect on skating forces nor their possible correction?
Only the vtf?
And what about stylus size and configuration (e.g. elliptical vs. spherical)?
I am not at all knowledgeable on this subject but it seems to me I have heard that these and a couple of other factors, too, are involved in skating phenomena.

No one has mentioned the use of test records and monitoring the relative Left channel vs Right channel output voltage levels. If the anti-skating force is not properly set, it should show up in different left vs right output levels. I'm not sure how sensitive this test is, but forces large enough to visibly deflect the cantalever should have an impact on balance levels.

Anti skate can be set by ear. Find a recore with some vocals and some decent dynamics. Then set the force to zero. This works best with someone helping you, but you can do it yourself if you're patient.

Listen to the right channel and you should hear it almost lower in dynamic volume than the left (a bit recessed). Slowly turn the tracking force up, I mean very slowly a wee bit at a time. Eventually you should start to hear the right channel coming up and getting closer to what the left channel is producing dynamically. Then as you get higher you should hear both channels sounding more dynamic and just better and better. Move the anti-skate up very slowly now.

At last you will hear a fairly dramatic drop off int he quality of both channels. You have now gone a wee bit too far. Back it off a notch and you have optomized your anti-skate.

Enjoy,
Bob

Well after very careful and long listening with my new toy I did indeed notice that the anti-skate had a distinct effect on the sound of the left channel mainly. Skipping and mistracking was fairly uncommon even when VTF was on the lighter side "light". I still found that the cartridge performed beter in my view with lighter VTF.
This old Signet AMS really digs up lots of fine detail that I have not heard with other MM carts. It is really a very nice surprise and the Tag Sale price even better.
I am not sure who made the tone arm for this Hitachi table but it couldn't be all that bad as some have suggested. It has that typical 70s semi-S shaped Japanese arm that seemed to be on most mid fi+ tables. With the anti-skate as a dial vs the little dangling wieght. It also has a highly stylized perforated detachable aluminum (I think) headshell which will make comparing carts easy when I finally get my real gear back. I am separated from my equipment as well as my soon to be Ex wife.
Thanks a lot for the input and advice. You analog guys rarely seem to agreeon anything. I am afraid that I am becoming one myself, these days I rarely listen to CDs. With my other equipment I listened to CDs 90% of the time.