A cartridge casing houses a fragile pickup arm unit of a video disc record player to, (1) protect the pickup arm unit during storage and handling, and (2) facilitate ready replacement of the pickup arm unit without need for any connections and adjustments. The pickup arm unit comprises a pickup arm carrying a signal pickup at one end and having its second end secured to a coupler by a compliant pickup arm support. The pickup arm unit is suspended at the second end within the casing by a pair of tabs secured to the coupler and extending therefrom for reception in a pair of openings provided in the casing. A clamp pivotally mounted in the casing engages the pickup arm to securely hold the signal pickup end of the pickup arm unit in a retracted position in the casing when the cartridge is in an unassembled condition. A finger mounted in the player supporting structure engages and disables the clamp during assembly of the cartridge in the player to free the pickup arm for engagement with a signal pickup lowering/lifting mechanism mounted in the supporting structure.
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