A 60 year old turntable design is still going strong!

MC - its a chassis old school three point sprung suspension with rudimentary damping.  The sub-chassis hangs from the springs, which are centered on three shafts /screws.
Pretty normal design from 1950 --> 2000, and all pretty much based on Ivor's original

(above -- "classic", i sometimes hate auto"correct")

I would not worry about holding records down. My Origin Live Gravity One record "weight" disabused me of all that in no time flat. It was the general I-beam design that caught my eye, not the details of how it was implemented way back then. The Sovereign turntable I have now is light years more sophisticated in materials and construction, but it does share this one feature of design. Which I find fascinating. 

Edgar Villchur developed acoustic suspension which allowed smaller speakers to produce bass and had a significant affect on stereo as the smaller speakers made stereo practical. And until the 70s it ruled audio speaker sales. Acoustic Research owned 1/3 of he market.

Villchur then wanted a better reasonably priced turntable. He hired a designer and after a year with no results took over himself and with no background in turntable design, just working with logic, developed a turntable that became the model for most of the turntables for the next decades.

He treated his customers like family. If you had problems that needed factory warranty work, they supplied boxes and paid for for shipping both ways.

He sold Acoustic Research in the late 60s and went into hearing aid research and acquired several patents that he gave away.

If there was ever an audio hero it was Edgar Villchur.

It still is one of the the BEST and most sought after TT on the vintage market.

It was the first to incorporate the T bar design. All that followed were following a wonderful, simple design.. 

For a light weight, it's one that should be, in the WORK WELL nostalgia class of audio gear. 

Buddy, AR has a full blown CULT following and with good reason..

Until you actually hear a tricked out AR.. I'd keep my opinions about HIGH quality gear to myself.. They are one of the BEST nuggets out there IF you can find the 78-9 dollar AR..

Russco.. NUT here.. I have a few.. Look at my page here on AG. There is one in transition from a local FM station in the area.

Older is good, look at Farm Girl.. LOL

Regards