What oil for VPI HW19 turntable?

Actually, if what's in there is original, or someone else' idea, you should change it.

Remove the platter from the bearing well being caerful not to lose the ball. Unscrew the cap at the bottom of the well. Use mineral spirits on a lint free cloth like Handi-Wipes to clean out what is probably dark thick gunk.

Drip 5 drops of Mobil One 10W-40 on the spindle shaft and 3 more drops in the well. Rotate a few times, watch for spillage. Done.

That's what VPI recommends in the MK IV Manual.

Yikes! Q-tips? Where does all that cotton go? Handi-Wipes are the gods gift to woodworkers, machinists; anyone who needs an absolutely lint-free cloth.

As for the rest, pulling the spindle 3 times a year is too often for me, YMMV.

I can't post the manual here (can I?) but like in Annie Hall, I could say as Woody did, "I've got Kurt Vonnegut right here, and..." :-}

Astock, thanks for the correction, it's been decades....