The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I'd like to replace this brake leather as it is quite worn. It appears to have been rivet on. I am wondering how that was done, unless the rivets were in a countersunk hole? Otherwise, they would contact the turntable, right?

I found some old leather that was used to make belts for metal lathes back in the day. It's a little less than 3/16" thick and I think it would be a good match.

Any ideas how to proceed? How to remove the old and how to attach the new? I think rivets could be made from brass escutceon pins or I could turn them on the lathe.

I could cheat and just glue new leather to the brake lever, but that feels like cheating.
Dave D

Use glue... easier to replace next time...

Dave,

If you use flat head rivets, I think the rivet heads would most likely embed into the leather sufficiently to clear. You could also cut small counterbores for the heads as well.