Cartridge protractor- the best?

Hi Nandric...so using a feikert as an example, the arm that touches the pivot point is only for getting the correct spindle to pivot point distance and has nothing to do with adjusting the zenith (offset) angle ? In other words, as long as the protractor is on the spidle, no matter where the platter moves, the null point alignment lines will be correct ? This now makes sense to me...duh

If this is the case, I need to get that mirrored protractor to better see my cantilever which is shorter than normal along with being a low riding cart that makes it very difficult to see the cantilever head on with the needle down on a traditional protractor.

In other words, as long as the protractor is on the spidle, no matter where the platter moves, the null point alignment lines will be correct ? This now makes sense to me...duh

actually on further thought, this doesn't make sense to me...The line of sight line on the protractor used to align the protractor to the pivot point seems prone to error. What am I missing ? TIA

Hi Rockitman, I am sorry if created the impression to know
anything about Feikert. This is not the case. I wanted to
explain the difference between spindle-pivot distance and
the arc protractor. From your reaction I may assume that
you 'got the picture'. However a mirrored protractor is not as easy to use as you assume. Our eyes are alas not 'omnipotent'. And those short cantilevers and styli which seem to hide from us are a p.in the a. So some magnifying instruments are needed. But you should try the
Mint protractor. I am in this hobby for 40 years and have
never seen something better. I have two of them for both of my tonearms (Triplanar VII and the Reed 2A).
Regards,

As long as one attains perfect tangency at the chosen two null points, the proper offset angle and pivot to stylus distance has been attained (i.e., proper alignment). The use of the Feickert spindle-to-pivot measuring arm is merely a convenience. Once you know the distance, you can select the proper arc where the same sort of tangency points are marked. The convenience comes from the ability to firm lock the platter/alignment tool in a single spot when making the tangency adjustment. Unlike simple two point protractors, you don't have to rock the platter back and forth when moving from one of the points to the other. Some people have a very hard time figuring out which way they have to move the cartridge to adjust the overhang when they are also moving the platter when making the adjustment so they can never achieve agreement at the two points. With the Feickert, one first puts the tool into perfect alignment (needle point over the pivot center) then one locks the tool in place by putting some kind of wedge under the platter so the platter doesn't move. The distance measure tells you which curved line you should use to make your measurements. The correct overhang (stylus to pivot distance) will be achieved when the stylus sits in the tiny dimple on the correct curve for either of the two measurement points. This distance should be the same for either measurement point if the correct curve has been chosen. Once correct overhang is achieved, it is easy to twist the cartridge to achieve tangency as well.

The convenience comes from the ability to firm lock the platter/alignment tool in a single spot when making the tangency adjustment.

Thanks for clearing that up for me Larry.