Rigid Arm (Victor Talking Machine Company)
The rigid arm was an early, fixed tonearm used on Victor disc phonographs in the early 1900s. Unlike later pivoting designs, it held the reproducer in a stationary position and directed sound through a solid connection to the horn. This system was simple and effective for early record playback but was soon replaced by more advanced tonearms that allowed better tracking across the record.
Many Victor machines from this transitional period included a small cast metal instruction plate—typically reading “REMOVE THIS PLATE TO ATTACH RIGID ARM”—which covered the mounting point for the rigid arm. The plate protected the opening when the rigid arm was not installed and served as a guide for users or dealers customizing the machine’s configuration.
