Damping apparatus for damping the resonance of disc record tone arms

In a damping apparatus for damping the resonance of a disc record tone arm, comprising first and second relatively movable elements in engagement with energy absorbing material therebetween, and skid means mounted on one of said elements for engagement, when in use, with the disc record surface, the improvement wherein said skid means comprises:

• a cantilever arm anchored at one end thereof to said one element and having a longitudinal axis, wherein said cantilever arm has substantial stiffness both in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof and in the plane, containing the longitudinal axis of said cantilever arm, normal to the record surface when in use, and further wherein said cantilever arm has substantial compliance transversely to said cantilever arm in the plane, containing the longitudinal axis thereof, parallel to the record surface when in use;
• and
• a skid pad connected to said cantilever arm at the end thereof opposite that end anchored to said one element, said skid pad having a first axis which extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of said cantilever arm, wherein said skid pad has substantial stiffness in the direction normal to the first axis thereof in the plane parallel to the surface of the record when in use,
• wherein said skid means has torsional compliance sufficient to enable one end of the longitudinal dimension of said skid pad to surmount material projecting slightly above the record surface while exerting only a small force at the point of anchoring of said cantilever arm to said one element.