SME 309 Tonearms: Production Years and Variations

Of the five SME arms I own, only the most recent, a 309 purchased during the year before they stopped selling arms, has the coloured logo.  It is also the only one with serial # information on the box, stickered on.

My arms go back to the 80s.

The 2 IVs, the IV.Vi, and the 309 all include the hyphen.  The other arm, a series 3, does not apply.

Bill

Perhaps I'm wrong about the coloured logo, then. You could always ask the ever helpful Elaine Wratten at sales@sme.ltd.uk

I have my 309 arm since 1999 and it came in the black and white box.

Thank you all for your replies and information. I have one more  🤔😂. Which tonearm would be better to keep for my system — the newer version with the colored logo, or the older one? Or is there no difference in the years of production?

Which tonearm would be better to keep for my system — the newer version with the colored logo, or the older one? Or is there no difference in the years of production?

The coloured logo is a red herring.

The arm with the higher serial number should be the newer arm.

You want to keep the arm that is in the best condition.

You can email SME the serial numbers ( on the box ) and they can give you the manufacturing date and specs for each arm.