Incidentally, this is the third turntable in the family. When I was small, my father used to own a multi-changer Garrard turntable with an L-shaped Shure stylus which I abused to no end. Then, when I was wiser, we progressed to a Lenco L75. That was the time when big speaker boxes were the in-thing. What I liked about the Lenco was the ability to vary the turntable speed seamlessly through its range - I think it was from 16rpm to 78rpm - so I could distort the sound from my records. I never went as far as 78rpm, hitting the limit at 45rpm, just to be on the 'safe side'.
Below is a pic of the L75 (not mine, though). The speed could be changed by lifting and shifting a lever on the left side of the player while beneath the tonearm head is the on-off switch. Like the Rega above, there were all sorts of weights and counter-weights at the back of the tonearm to balance and counter-balance all the perceived tracking and anti-tracking forces, something which the Garrard lacked. I can't find a photo of the Garrard on the Internet so you'll have to imagine it when I say that the L-shaped flip-over stylus could be turned from one side to another side to accommodate playing 33/45rpm records and 78rpm records. It was practical but not sophisticated.
So this, the Rega Planar 3, is my third turntable. There are only two speeds available but it's mostly set at 33rpm. I hardly play my 45rpm records any more. Too much of a hassle to adjust the belt. The stylus I use is the Supex and I meticulously clean it of dust everytime I turn the Rega on. My records are washed with plain running water and a soft sponge but I also use an artist's hard-bristle brush to give my records a once-over before I play them.
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