Brake repair material for Victrola

[chriszm]

Hello. I'm a newer collector (about 1 year now) and have enjoyed reading and learning from this forum a great deal. I've recently started posting my two cents here or there, but this is my first (of likely many) questions.
The brake on my VV-IX does not sufficiently stop the turntable when engaged, the old leather is smoothed out from years of use. I've replaced the old spring to see if more tension would help, but only a little. I'm assuming replacing the bit of leather with new material would do the trick, but wanted to know if there are any other materials that work better or are easier to install? Also, what are good resources for repalcements? A shoe repair store?
Thanks!

[gramophoneshane]

I use a small piece from a treadle sewing machine belt. It's about the right size usually, & if not, it's easy to cut or sand to the right diametre.
Others use rolled up fine leather I believe, but I dont know if you needto glue it to stop it fanning out as it wears against the turntable??

[EdiBrunsVic]

A small piece of a treadle sewing machine belt works. I used some to replace my worn brake part on the Victrola. I may have a small section left, if you need some.

[chriszm]

Thank you, both. I will give that a try. There are several sewing machine shops near me, so I should be succesful.

[Jerry B.]

A piece of oiled leather is a good choice because it brings the turntable to a somewhat gradual stop. I once was called to repair a Victrola that I had sold a few year prior. When I got there, the complaint was a squeaky brake. One drop of well placed oil and I was on my way home. I once saw an eraser tip used. It worked but the turntable was stopped immediately. Jerry Blais

[JohnM]

A word of caution when replacing brake leathers: don't spread the metal pincers that secure the leather apart by simply sticking a screwdriver blade in the split and spreading them apart by trying to force a larger diameter. That will easily snap off one of the pincers and ruin the brake. Instead, grip each one with a pliers and very slightly twist one pincer to the left and the other to the right. Only a small amount of twist will allow the old leather to release, and when twisted back to original position will secure the replacement brake leather as tightly as the original material was. Twist, don't spread.

[FloridaClay]

Replacement leather for brakes is available from any number of phonograph repairmen/restorers. I get mine from George Vollema (Great Lakes Antique Phonograph) http://www.victroladoctor.com/. Tell him what model machine it is for so he can send you the right size. They are very inexpensive. And, as some others have mentioned, after you install it, put a drop or two on the exposed end of the leather. Original instructions that came with these machines usually say to do that.

George is a good source for all kinds of parts, by the way. He has a stock of old parts machines, as well as some reproduction parts.

Clay

[hillndalefan]

I used to use the sewing machine belt leather method, too, but that has become impossible to find where I live. I have in some cases found that there was enough of the original leather to just move it a bit out to make better contact with the turntable rim. Great information, everybody.

[Henry]

I'm late to this thread, but here goes: leather boot lace!

[larryh]

Yes the old treadle sewing machine leather belts work for many machines. I never considered oiling it as suggested but if its noisy I guess it might help. I rather like it to stop quick rather than sort of skid to a stop. However it may be that in the case of the Edison a small belt won't work. I did create a belt that was two sizes from a soft leather of a coin purse and it was wrapped with a bit of tacky glue which works wonderful. The larger size of course is to the front and the smaller section is in the holder which prevents it from being pushed loose from the stopping mechanism. At one time I put up a diagram of how I cut the material to work, that may be around here somewhere. I think I put it in the Edison group as well.