Sam wrote:
Hello Listers,

I picked up a turntable with a Linn Basik LV X tonearm. The table is a
CJ55 made by Colin Walker in UK. I have a problem with it that I hope
you may help. The problem is that the cartridge won't start from the
lead-in groove. Everytime it starts, it slide for about half an inch
toward the center of the platter, and then I think it rests there
without moving along the groove into the inner grooves. I know for
sure that the counterweight and the anti-skate adjustment have been
messed up. But upon further investigation, I think I found that there
is no stylus attached to the cantilever. Due to my poor eyesight, I
cannot say for sure, but I think there is no stylus. Probably it was
knocked off during shipping? Anyway I know it is difficult for one to
do diagnosis by only reading my poor descriptions, but I just hope
maybe by any chance someone has had the same problem before or can
tell whether it is because there is no stylus. I appreciate your help!
Thanks in advance!

===============

It certainly sounds like your diagnosis is correct. Perhaps only the
very tip of the stylus is broken off. Many have only a minuscule
diamond tip bonded to a plastic or metal holder, and if that bond lets
go, the tip falls off. Unless one's eyesight is excellent, it may not
even be apparent from a careful naked-eye inspection.

If you try to play the record with such a 'no-tip' stylus, your ears
will certainly tell you something is amiss.

-Gene Poon