[Marsupial]

Thanks a lot for the help and explanations, this is very informative. 

I am pretty sure the cartridge is the original from (I think) 1953. The vm-1200a bears the name Stromberg-Carlson if its any different. 

Here are some pictures. I am not certain what it is we're trying to look at, I can take better pictures knowing what to focus on. 

   

   

Can it be an impedance matching issue? 
I currently have the mono rca connector from the vm-1200a paired to the rca looking connector out of the 47-1230 that was meant to go in the matching transformer.
Perhaps I should connect differently?