need opinion on "special" lp parts i just aquired

[dpdken]

HELLO, i am completely new to this forum. I was hoping someone could tell me if what I have is "special" or not. I dont have a clue on the value or anything. First is a brand new box Audio Technica AT15S dual magnet cartridge. They are brand new from 1974. There are 2 cartridges... ( i dont know if thats what the "dual" stands for. They are in what I beleive to be an oak case with a red porcelain top, along with a long piece of paper (test printout???) dated 1974 from Bruel & Kjaer Copenhagen.... the next item is a AST20 replacement stylud shibata diamond- brand new.
They were all in a 1974 UPS package with a bunch of other brand new parts & and a new SME model 3009 series II improved tone arm? please see PICS
Im most curious about the cartridges... i believe they no longer make them...

pic 1

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test paper? dated 1974

20120503_114839.jpg (197.36 KiB) Viewed 485 times

20120503_114644.jpg (411.02 KiB) Viewed 485 times

[Alec124c41]

What you have there is very good indeed. Properly set up on a good turntable, you should have sweet music. This stuff was top class at the time, and is still highly regarded.
What turntable do you intend to mount this on?

Cheers,
Alec

[crofk]

WOW What a nice find. I bought the AT 14S when it first came out and now have it and the 15S and 20S also. they are great cartridges.

From the looks of the pics you made quite a nice haul. Wish I could stumble upon something like that.

Keep us informed on what you mount them on.

kc

[dlaloum]

The AT20S is a hand selected upper version of the AT15S - same production line, but the cream of the crop were labelled AT20S.

They were Audio Technica's predecessor to the current AT150MLx - and they are very very good.

If the styli really are "new" then you got yourself a pretty special set of cartridges.
(current NOS replacements are over $150...)

They are high compliance cartridges and designed to work in a low mass arm - like that SME!

Quite a special package you have there.

[Eoin]

I presume you're interested in selling rather than using?

Don't know on the value of the cartridges, even if good they're very very old and may not work well. The arm you can check ebay for prices.

[nat]

Beautiful arm, in great condition and three headshells (even though the manual sesm to be for the fixed headshell version) -- you did very well. The cartridges are also fine. That manual Parastat is an excellent record cleaner, but what is the dial gauge?