Record player with a square, viscously damped pick-up arm lift rod

A record player comprising:

• a deck plate,
• a turntable and a pick-up arm carried on said deck plate, and
• a lifting device which can be moved upwards and downwards to lift and lower the pick-up arm relative to the upper side of the turntable, said lifting device comprising an arm support, a lift rod, damping means, a guide element connected to the deck plate, and an actuating member,
• said lift rod forming an integral unit with said support and being guided by said guide element, and cooperating with said actuating member for moving the lifting device upwards and downwards, and
• said damping means comprising a highly viscous substance for damping at least the downward movement of the lifting device,
• characterized in that the lift rod comprises a pair of longitudinal peripheral walls defining planes which are arranged at an angle with each other so as to define a line of intersection, and engage a corresponding pair of guide walls of the guide element,
• the guide element forms an integral unit with the deck plate,
• the highly viscous substance is retained between said walls of the lift rod and said guide walls, and
• a spring element is arranged between the deck plate and the lift rod, such that said element exerts a force on the lift rod, said force being directed downwardly and towards said line of intersection of the planes of said walls of the lift rod to urge these walls against said guide walls.