SME 309 Tonearms: Production Years and Variations


Hello, could you please help me clarify the production years of the SME 309 tonearms? As you can see in the photos, the outer boxes have different logo colors, the serial numbers vary significantly, and the writing on the tonearm tube is either “tonearm” or “tone-arm.” I would greatly appreciate any information you can provide.

https://i.postimg.cc/8FKYMJLd/IMG-1142.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/6yfYC4X7/IMG-1143.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/8f8tmhcv/IMG-5117.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/VdgWJyqn/IMG-5118.jpg

ori71

Of the five SME arms I own, only the most recent, a 309 purchased during the year before they stopped selling arms, has the coloured logo.  It is also the only one with serial # information on the box, stickered on.

My arms go back to the 80s.

The 2 IVs, the IV.Vi, and the 309 all include the hyphen.  The other arm, a series 3, does not apply.

Bill

Perhaps I'm wrong about the coloured logo, then. You could always ask the ever helpful Elaine Wratten at sales@sme.ltd.uk