The HW-19 Mk.2 has a floating subchassis composed of a bottom layer of steel top with a 1/2" split-slab of acrylic (the split between the larger piece onto which the platter bearing is bolted, onto the smaller the tonearm), and a 1" Delrin platter with a thin slab of lead bonded to it’s underside and covered in cork. The Hurst motor is mounted onto the wooden base, as is the dust cover.
In the Mk.3, the subchassis’ steel bottom plate is replaced with stainless steel, the platter remaining exactly the same. Same motor mounting design.
In the MK.4, the 1" Delrin platter is replaced with a 1-1/2" lead-lined Delrin one, and with the better bearing from the TNT and Aries 1 tables. I may be mistaken, but I believe the 1-1/2" Delrin platter is also used on the original TNT table, and is definitely used on the Aries Black Knight table. I’m not certain, but I believe the base-mounted motor was still standard on the MK.4, the SAMA offered as an optional upgrade.
The 1-1/2" Delrin platter is replaced in the TNT-3 with the 1-1/4" aluminum/Delrin platter (still with a sheet of lead bonded to it’s underside and covered in cork) described in my earlier post, and retained in the TNT-4. That same platter is used on the Aries 1 table. That platter is replaced with a solid frosted acrylic platter in later Aries tables, not highly regarded amongst VPI aficionados, considered a major misstep on Harry Weisfeld’s part.
In the TNT-5, the 1-1/4" aluminum/lead-lined Delrin platter is replaced with the 1-1/2" stainless steel/Delrin platter (no lead in this one). In the TNT-6, that platter is replaced with the same solid acrylic platter as on the later Aries. Again, a mistake.
Confusing, ain’t it?!
In the Mk.3, the subchassis’ steel bottom plate is replaced with stainless steel, the platter remaining exactly the same. Same motor mounting design.
In the MK.4, the 1" Delrin platter is replaced with a 1-1/2" lead-lined Delrin one, and with the better bearing from the TNT and Aries 1 tables. I may be mistaken, but I believe the 1-1/2" Delrin platter is also used on the original TNT table, and is definitely used on the Aries Black Knight table. I’m not certain, but I believe the base-mounted motor was still standard on the MK.4, the SAMA offered as an optional upgrade.
The 1-1/2" Delrin platter is replaced in the TNT-3 with the 1-1/4" aluminum/Delrin platter (still with a sheet of lead bonded to it’s underside and covered in cork) described in my earlier post, and retained in the TNT-4. That same platter is used on the Aries 1 table. That platter is replaced with a solid frosted acrylic platter in later Aries tables, not highly regarded amongst VPI aficionados, considered a major misstep on Harry Weisfeld’s part.
In the TNT-5, the 1-1/4" aluminum/lead-lined Delrin platter is replaced with the 1-1/2" stainless steel/Delrin platter (no lead in this one). In the TNT-6, that platter is replaced with the same solid acrylic platter as on the later Aries. Again, a mistake.
Confusing, ain’t it?!