Apparatus for playing record discs in an automatic mode and an automatic music piece selection mode

An automatic record disc playing apparatus comprising:

• a tone arm having a connection part onto which a normal head shell having a plurality of terminals for transmitting signals which are picked up by a pickup cartridge and a head shell for automatic music piece selection play are selectively mounted, said head shell for automatic music piece selection play having detection means for detecting the sound groove portions and the land portions between adjacent music pieces, a plurality of terminals exclusively for said detection means, and a plurality of terminals for transmitting signals picked up by a pickup cartridge, said tone arm having a plurality of signal transmitting terminals which are connected to the terminals for transmitting signals of said normal head shell and said head shell for automatic music piece selection play, and a plurality of terminals exclusively for the detection means which are connected to the terminals exclusively for the detection means of said head shell for automatic music piece selection play;
• play mode changeover signal producing means connected to at least one of the plurality of terminals exclusively for the detection means, for producing a play mode changeover signal as an output in states where the terminals exclusively for the detection means of said head shell for automatic music piece selection play and said tone arm are respectively connected to each other or not connected;
• and
• means for urging said tone arm to perform an automatic music piece selection play operation and a normal play operation according to the play mode changeover signal produced by said play mode changeover signal producing means.