For years we (I) have been under the impression that the Andante 'E' cartridge is a derivative of the Grace F9, being Grace's attempt to enter the North American market under a different brand name.
Here is a pic of the Andante 'E':
It doesn't really resemble the F9 but I suppose it doesn't have to if the innards are the same.
Now here is a pic of the Shelter 201 MM cartridge:
Tell me these two carts are not identical......
I am now confused. Some have said over the years that the Andante was made by Sumiko but they were just the Nth American distributor for this 'rebadged' F9>>Andante 'E'. Have Sumiko and Shelter or Grace and Shelter (I doubt it) ever had a relationship? Because that Shelter 201 body is identical to the Andante 'E'.....
I know it is hard to find definitive info on Grace and even harder on Andante but there appears to be some connection between Grace/Andante and Shelter judging by that shared cartridge body design. Adding to this confusion, Shelter started in 1986, a few years after the the Andante 'E' finished (and after the F9 was replaced by the F14) but before Grace finished up in the early 90's. Maybe it is just a shared body design that Shelter gained and used after the finish of the Andante 'E'. I know this is probably clutching at straws but can anyone enlighten me on this situation?
I'm not holding my breath!?