Vintage MONO Cartridge Question ?

I'll never understand why people buy used phono cartridges. <shudder> Yes, you can have them rebuilt, but that's a dicey proposition and you can never be sure what you'll have when the service is complete. If ever there was an audio component to buy new, the phono cartridge is it, imo.

Cleeds, I don't agree with your gross generalization, but that's beside the point.  The OP seems to want a true mono cartridge, and most of those are going to be "vintage" by definition.  It might be more constructive to direct him to consider one of the very few modern mono cartridges that are also "true mono", if you are leery of "used" cartridges (which I am not).  I think EMT and Ortofon still make new, true mono cartridges, but I cannot name model names.  Then too, there is Miyajima.  Miyajima market a whole line of true mono cartridges, designed from the ground up to be mono.  Also, Miyajima offer a choice of 1.0mil or 0.7mil stylus tip radius, if you are anal about early mono vs later mono and groove width.  

Iopscri, I have no idea why you choose 1962 as some sort of cut-off point for early vs later mono. There is mass confusion on the internet regarding this subject, and I don't believe there are hard facts about dates; each company was doing what it wanted to do, and they were not all in synch back then.

I take it you want a cartridge that will play pre-1962 mono records in their native mode--in other words, not a cartridge designed to track both mono and stereo records. In other words, with only two signal pinouts (+ and -), and cantilever compliance only in the horizontal plane.

The Denon DL-102 has an internal mono coil arrangement and just two signal pins--one positive and one negative to create a single output channel. It's a high output (3 mV) moving coil cartridge. It is compliant in both planes, but is internally and externally wired to only pick up horizontal motion. I found this description/review on Dagogo enlightening. 

Also, I stand by my recommendation for the Audio Technica AT-MONO3/LP. I got it for playing my 2014 Beatles mono records, but I've found it does well on pre-1962 mono LPs as well. It is dead-quiet in the vertical plane, and makes old mono LPs sound really quiet. Such mono LPs sound unlistenably noisy with a stereo cart.

I am willing to roll the dice with a vintage cartridge.  I have done well before in seeking out 30-40yr old MM stereo cartridges.  The cost of a current production True Mono cartridge starts at about $800-$900.   The cost of acquiring a vintage cartridge, and then having it rebuilt should be about $500-$600.   The assumption being that the cartridge in question does not have a shorted coil, and measures within a few ohms of specification.  The rest- cantilever, stylus, suspension, bushings, can be replaced.   There are at least 2 rebuilders with significant experience in restoring these cartridges, so I am confident of success.

The change from mono to stereo pressings included a change in groove width and shape.  Older mono pressings (pre stereo) can be played using stereo cartridges, but something is lost.  Using a true mono cartridge (that responds to lateral signal only), with a stylus of appropriate width results in much better reproduction than a modern stereo cartridge adapted for mono, and using a current stylus profile.

I'm not a Luddite but I realized a long time ago that "new" does not automatically mean "better".

My system is a combination of new, old and vintage components:
  
Triangle Titus 202 speakers  (10yrs old)
ARC D70 MKII
Cary 40m/SE
Audible Illusions M3
Linn LP12/ ITTOK LVII / AT 33MLocc / Lundahl SUT
Blue Sound Node 2 media streamer connected to an NAS (purchased this year)
AR3a used as subwoofers
Mac 2100 as amp for subs
Mirage powered crossover

Technics SP15 TT / AT 1503 MKII arm to be used a  mono TT

Computer system:
Musical Fidelity a3.2 integrated
Spica TC50
HRT Streamer
AR ES1/ Shure V15Vmr

I also have a large collection of vintage tube equpment:
Heathkit (W4, W5, AA111, UA2 amps)
Eico (HF14, HF86 HF87 HF81)
Fisher (500s, 500c, 500b, 400, 600, X202, 20a, 30a, 440a. FM202T, FM90r, FM200 + mpx200)
Pilot (AA902 and console stereo amp)
Dynaco (too many ST70 and PAS3, several MK4)
AR (3a, 5, and multiple prs of 2ax, at least 2 XA tables)
Janszen (400z, 600z)
Conrad Johson PV5
Hafler DH101
Several NAD receivers
NAD 3020

I have looked at the Denon 102 and may pursue it as a backup if my effort to restore a vintage cartridge proves difficult.   I have listened to comparisons between the 102 and other cartridges.  The 102 does some things very well- mono image is corporeal and surface noise is reduced, but it lacks the air and HF extension of better mono cartridges.  And there is always the GE VR-II....