The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Keep in mind that rubber cement and contact cement are really two different things, although many use the terms interchangeably. IMHO, for leather belts, contact cement is best (coat both ends of the scarf splice, let dry, then lightly squeeze the ends together with pliers). Many suppliers of leather phonograph belts will include a small vial of contact cement with them.

Thanks for all the info. I appreciate it guys.

I just made my first belt a few weeks ago on a field repair over at
the Atlanta, Illinois library and museum.

They have an Edison Standard model D combination 2/4 minute machine
which was in need of a belt, among many other things.

So I took my 2 yards of belting I just got this spring from Ron Sitko
at Union, and my quart can of Weldwood contact cement.

I wrapped the belting around the pulleys and marked it with a pen,
making sure to have about half-inch overlap.

Then cut it and tapered the ends using sandpaper. Glued it up
with 2 drops of cement from the can on the end of a screwdriver,
allowed to dry for a few minutes and pressed the ends together.

Works great.

Chuck

I find that "Tacky Glue"™ also works pretty well on belts.

Bill