Zerostat: Old is Gold?

P.S. regarding my previous comment that:

I have never felt the need to use a brush....

I do occasionally use a brush on the platter itself, even though my turntable has a dustcover. I use an Oracle record brush I purchased back in the 1980s.

Also, after thinking about it a little further I’m not sure I was recalling correctly that the original Zerostat instructions recommended three pulls and releases at each of the three locations above the record, rather than one. But in any event that’s what I’ve always done.

Best regards,
-- Al

I purchased an original red Zerostat in the late 1970s, and replaced it with the blue "Milty" version about 8 or 9 years ago. As far as I could tell the original one was still working as well as ever, but I wanted to eliminate any lingering uncertainty. I did not notice any difference in the performance of the two devices.

Ghosthouse is correct that the blue Milty version is supplied with a plastic attachment enclosing what I believe to be a small neon bulb, which allows one to test the gun.

His recollection is also correct about the instructions provided with the original version, except that I believe they called for three pull and release cycles at each of the three locations, rather than one at each location (with the final release at each location being performed away from the record). That is what I have done on every side of every record I have played for the past nearly 40 years.

I also use a Nitty Gritty record cleaning machine on new records and occasionally on ones that have been played a number of times, and after cleaning I put the record in a previously unused Mobile Fidelity sleeve. I also clean the tip of the stylus with Last stylus cleaner before and after playing every side, while being careful to not let the fluid migrate up the cantilever. I have never felt the need to use a brush, and I’ve been happy with the results of these protocols.

Best regards,
-- Al