In a message dated 12/21/2006 5:52:08 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, steve_noreen at msn.com writes: Hi Al,What is the difference between a standard speaker and an automatic recorder? Greetings Steve: The Standard Speaker and the Recorder differ only in that the stylus bar for the Standard Speaker has both a ball for playback and a cutter for recording plus the arm has *no* lettering. The recorder has only a cutter stylus with the arm labeled RECORDER. Theoretically, an inscrupulous dealer could take a recorder, make a blank arm, and have a dual stylus bar made to increase the sale price from a $150 item to a $1,500 item on eBay for the unwary. Merry Christmas to all, Al Who can now pass for Santa Claus without having to use makeup...