This tonearm was something I bought off eBay years ago because it was very clean. I think it was around $30 at the time with shipping. The mount assembly came with it.
Oddly, no, while playing that record was loud enough to make my ears ring. I suspect the phone is doing something to mute the loud noises. Because I was using the big needles
Yea, the phone, I ran the video on the big PC with the regular sound system and it blasted as I remembered. I am told that fiber needles are available from a UK supplier, and I have some samples on the way to me. Usually I use the ones I find down inside Victrola cabinets, or bought off eBay as old stock. If you have a nipper to repoint the needles you can keep using them until they don't stick out of the reproducer anymore. Four or five plays between sharpening's. If you are careful with the nipper and only shave off enough wood to make it pointy again you can get a lot of plays out of one fiber needle.
The modern ones you can get all over the place today? Cheap imported junk, but they do work. I do not know if they will play 78's or just 33's and 45's. But if they do play 78's they should be able to do so without damaging them. Probably a good option for your more rare and expensive records. Fiber needle will do the least damage to a record long term on the original players. Most collectors don't play their records enough to do much if any damage to the 78's anyway, even the later 78's.
