Vintage Philips MC cartridges, but who built them?

Ynnot:

Evidence suggests that these cartridges were designed and built by Namiki.

Although unheralded outside of Japan, I consider these cartridges (probably 1978; 1979 at the latest) to be historically important because they are the first yokeless MC designs that I am aware of.

IIRC, the original GP922 was a one-magnet design similar to the later Ortofon MC200 (Concord type), while the GP922Z was a more sensible two-magnet design along the lines of Sumiko's US patent #4675859, but predating it by perhaps 7~8 years.

hth, jonathan carr

I thought Seiji Yoshioka was the first to do the yokeless design? But then, Ive been wrong in the past. [http://www.blackbirdaudio.com/Blackbird_Audio_Gallery/Transfiguration_Main.html]

I give up. [http://www.docstoc.com/docs/45840715/Moving-Coil-Type-Pickup-Cartridge---Patent-4455639]

Philips intended to start own cart production and bought the Micro Seiki MA 505 (S) tonearm for the purpose. This tonearm was never used because this intention was never
actualize. I got this tonearm from a Philips engineer for
400 Euro. I was of course very glad with such an opportunity but also assume that Halcro will be glad to read that Philips has selected this tonearm.

Regards,

Dear Ynnot: I own two MM Philips cartridges that appears on 1981 along its 1979 MC ones ( very low output. ).

I can't speak for the LOMC. For the MM the information I readed ( on a VE thread. ) is that Empire was the manufacturer on latest Philips MM model.

I own these cartridges for years but I do not hear it yet, so I can't say nothing about its quality performance.