Thorens TP-16 Tonearm cartridge mounting issue


Recently, I have acquired a Thorens TD-160 MKI equipped with the original TP-16 tonearm and headshell. I am using Dynavector 10x5 and Grado Gold cartridges but would like to try a Reference Grado in the near future. The problem lies within the headshell of the TP-16 tonearm, as it only allows for mounting from underneath the headshell and there are no holes on the top. After close examination, it seems I can remove the lid of the headshell but there remains a top that lies just above the threaded cartridge plate. Ideally, I would like to have 2 slots located above the headshell plate for cartridge installation and adjustment, this would make installation for Grado Reference and other cartridges much easier.

Does anyone know if there are other headshells that I could fit directly on the end of a TP16 with open slots on the top? Maybe a MKII headshell would work but I am really not sure?

Here is a link to a picture of a TP16 tonearm-
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/thorens/tp16.shtml

Thanks to everyone for your input.

Cheers,
Chris
chris74
Just a note - it seems there is no headshell on the Thorens TP16 MKII, just interchangeable arm wands.
How about screwing through the cartridge body and into the tp16 tonearm sled with a longer Thorens screw..You can get the longer screws and maybe go right through the cartridge body and into the Thorens headshell sliding sled...Instead of screwing from the top,Screw in from the bottom up.....?
You wouldn't be using the screws with the Grado wood body but longer Thorens screws.......
The TP-16 was revised at least two times that I know of. Each version had a different "headshell" design. I think one version actually had a removable headshell with a bayonet-style mount, and another had the removable armwand and a more traditional-looking headshell but it still required an unusual cartridge mounting technique as there were still no slots at the top. Why Thorens designed them this way, I have no idea.

I believe the last few years of the TD160 used the TP90 tonearm, which has what you're looking for. Perhaps the armwand is interchangeable with your TP16. The problem is, Thorens parts are rare and expensive and so this might be out of your comfort level in terms of experimentation.

The easiest solution in my opinion would be to swap out the arm completely for a Rega or Jelco or something in the $300-$400 range. I've also heard that the Linn Basik Plus and Akito work pretty well on Thorens decks. And, of course, if you came across a trashed parts unit with a TP90 arm, I don't see any reason why you couldn't swap arms.
Thorman, that's a good idea going from the bottom up but the factory holes on the Grado do not go all the way through the body. Grado may, however, drill out a cartridge body for me if I inquired about it.
Ekobesky, I originally considered swapping out the TP-16 in favor of a modern arm but I feel at this point the Thorens arm is nice enough to keep. I have rewired it completely with Cardas tonearm wire, re lubed and re adjusted the bearings, calibrated the arm and it sounds great. The entire TD160 has been refurbished and properly setup and has proved well worth the effort as it is a whole different sounding table at this point. Internally, they unit has been dampened with cork liner, new Thorens belt, cleaned and adjusted springs, addition of gold rca jacks and a removable IEC with Cardas silver solder used throughout. If you guys want to see the finished 160, take a peek on the system page of my account, there is a picture of the table there.