Pot metal soundbox

[chunnybh]

I have a pot metal HMV 5A reproducer. The back body is fine but the stylus mounting front has a 3mm gap where it has shrunk and snapped. I can gently squeeze it together but I am concerned I may snap it somewhere else. The break is between the two stylus mounts so the stylus mounts are now also 3mm further apart.
Should I force it together and try and glue it or should I fill in the gap with some epoxy and adjust the stylus pins to compensate for the 3mm gap?
Thanks in advance.

[Orchorsol]

Whether and where the screw holes will line up with the backplate will probably determine which approach to take, I should imagine... I'd be minded to screw it together gently, with clingfilm between the faces, to glue or fill it whilst it's lightly assembled. I have no experience of doing this - these are just idle thoughts!

[CarlosV]

Chunny, I have tried to restore a pot metal soundbox before (not a HMV, but a victor 4)by filling up the distorted part, but the end result was that the alignment of the needle holder was compromised and the soundbox would not function properly anymore. The HMV 5A not being rare, I would look for another one in the market, I have a number of 5as and 5bs and none have distorted rings, the fault in some of mine is the cracking of the back end connection to the arm at the location of the screw - this is why I never tried to unscrew the rubber ends of my soundboxes.

[chunnybh]

alignment of the needle holder was compromised

That is exactly my problem. A break anywhere else would be an easier fix. I've never had any success gluing pot metal and with the amount of tension against the join, I can't see a glue will hold it. A metal ring around the body might work or a guitar string slowly twisted and tightened may also bring the break together. I even thought of cutting it elsewhere so I can at least fix the spacing between the stylus mountings.
It's a rarer gold plated 5A for a HMV 194 so I really would like to save it if at all possible. Gold plated pot metal?. Is that possible?

[Victrolacollector]

alignment of the needle holder was compromised

That is exactly my problem. A break anywhere else would be an easier fix. I've never had any success gluing pot metal and with the amount of tension against the join, I can't see a glue will hold it. A metal ring around the body might work or a guitar string slowly twisted and tightened may also bring the break together. I even thought of cutting it elsewhere so I can at least fix the spacing between the stylus mountings.
It's a rarer gold plated 5A for a HMV 194 so I really would like to save it if at all possible. Gold plated pot metal?. Is that possible?

Yes, many reproducers which are of pot metal construction are plated of nickel, gold or other finish. Unfortunately, I never knew these bezels were pot metal. I know that the back of them are pot metal and there are new backs that can be purchased from the U.K.

I have had great success in repairing reproducers etc. with this paste epoxy that you find in a tube and with your fingers mix and mash it until it is ready. You can put a small glob on and work it out with your fingers, building up as necessary, shaping and molding and a little sanding. you can then put some thin coat of epoxy over that to seal. you can use a little gold paint with a toothpick and carefully paint it in to match better.

Depending on how the pins line up etc. You may have to use a small vice to hold it while gluing. Be careful pot metal is fragile and will snap.

[CarlosV]

It's a rarer gold plated 5A for a HMV 194 so I really would like to save it if at all possible. Gold plated pot metal?. Is that possible?

My suggestion is that you take the ring of a chrome or nickel plated 5A and gold plate it. If you force it back into shape you will create a hoop stress and chances are it will break somewhere else, and filing it up with epoxi will misalign the needle holder ends.