Trouble getting soundbox apart

[bart1927]

I think David is onto something here, I think one of my HMV #4s has a pot metal back and brass front while my other one os all brass. The one in Bart's first photo sure looks like the body (front) itself is brass. Maybe just a replacement back is all Bart needs. I've rebuilt a number of both Victor and HMV #4s for myself and others, pot metal and brass alike and it's true those gaskets turn to glue. I did one for a customer more recently that was really tough to get apart, I ended up sacrificing the mica in the end, but I had to soak the old gaskets with some oil to get it apart which took several attempts and lots of time. I've only ever had one completely fall apart on me and that was a Victor #4a (all pot metal) which was in pretty bad shape to begin with, I wasn't expecting it to hold up anyway.

Sean

That's interesting. At least that would explain why the front of this soundbox looks pristine. Maybe when they started their new line of all pot-metal sound boxes they had a couple of brass fronts left, and decided to use them up first.

I will try if I can get the back off, after detaching the needle bar from the diaphragm.

[Steve]

Bart, your troubles could be over very soon:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HMV-No-4-Soun ... 2569616f14

And I found this within two minutes of looking at Ebay for the first time in over 9 months!