The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

That material looks promising, assuming the diameter is correct.

Ok, looks like I’ll get some then. I’ll check the diameter of the current gaskets as soon as I can too.

Sir_Lunchalot wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 9:48 pm

JerryVan wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:38 am Your reproducer appears to be in great overall condition, but will need to have the gaskets replaced.

Ok, I'll get straight onto it this time! I suppose it's simple enough to do? I'll probably need a bit of guidance, as I want to preserve the diaphragm at all costs.

I had a look on the web, and found some promising looking gasket material: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/15413877834 ... xPYZSEUSAU
Do you think that would cut it? If so, I'll get some right away.

I charge £7 GBP for one metre of what I'm 99.9% sure is the same stuff!

If you are unaware, steel needles need replacing after 1-2 plays, so buy some while you are at it. Don't use old needles you may have found in your machine...

Orchorsol wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2025 5:26 am

Sir_Lunchalot wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 9:48 pm

JerryVan wrote: Fri Jan 31, 2025 6:38 am Your reproducer appears to be in great overall condition, but will need to have the gaskets replaced.

Ok, I'll get straight onto it this time! I suppose it's simple enough to do? I'll probably need a bit of guidance, as I want to preserve the diaphragm at all costs.

I had a look on the web, and found some promising looking gasket material: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/15413877834 ... xPYZSEUSAU
Do you think that would cut it? If so, I'll get some right away.

I charge £7 GBP for one metre of what I'm 99.9% sure is the same stuff!

Ok, I haven’t bought any of the other stuff yet, so I’ll get some of yours instead I think! How can I arrange to buy some?

Curt A wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2025 12:26 pm If you are unaware, steel needles need replacing after 1-2 plays, so buy some while you are at it. Don't use old needles you may have found in your machine...

Thanks for the advice. I actually bought a fair few needles from Soundgen a while back for my wonderful sounding 1953 HMV 102 (an Australian made one too!), so I’m right for needles currently.

Any old needles that I find (I have one tin of Decca medium tone, another of HMV loud tone, and also a tin of strange, copper plated(?) Columbia ‘Talkie’ needles) I check with a microscope to make sure that they are unused.

Sir_Lunchalot wrote: Sun Feb 09, 2025 4:47 am Ok, I haven’t bought any of the other stuff yet, so I’ll get some of yours instead I think! How can I arrange to buy some?

Just send me an email (my email address is on my website) - or PM or email me via this forum.

Okay, so I have received the new gasket material (thanks Orchorsol!), which is the perfect diameter, and I think I’m ready to have a go at taking the soundbox apart. I have some free time both today and tomorrow to do it. Should I begin by trying to remove the outer gasket? It is rock hard, but I think I could probably remove it with some long nosed pliers or something similar. Also, I assume I take the diaphragm and needle bar out as a single assembly by unscrewing where it attaches to the underside of the box?

One more question if I may (for now anyway): do I need to seal the gaskets with anything afterwards? I thought I once read of someone using wax, but is that really necessary?

Thanks,
William

Sir_Lunchalot wrote: Sat Feb 22, 2025 8:22 pm Okay, so I have received the new gasket material (thanks Orchorsol!), which is the perfect diameter, and I think I’m ready to have a go at taking the soundbox apart. I have some free time both today and tomorrow to do it. Should I begin by trying to remove the outer gasket? It is rock hard, but I think I could probably remove it with some long nosed pliers or something similar. Also, I assume I take the diaphragm and needle bar out as a single assembly by unscrewing where it attaches to the underside of the box?

One more question if I may (for now anyway): do I need to seal the gaskets with anything afterwards? I thought I once read of someone using wax, but is that really necessary?

Thanks,
William

William,

You'll need to carefully pick out that outer gasket piece by piece. It will crack and crumble. It's safer to remove the needle bar and diaphragm separately. The connection between the bar and diaphragm is a delicate one. The diaphragm can be easily damaged if there's any stress placed on that joint while working to remove the unit as an assembly. It's very important to use a properly sized screwdriver on the tiny screw at the needle bar connection. The diaphragm may want to stick to the old gaskets. If so, be careful separating them. Then, it's just about removing the rear gasket.

When sizing the new gaskets, cut them a little bit too long. This will push the two ends of the gasket tightly together when installed, which will help to keep everything airtight. The outer gasket is installed by just tucking it under the front flange of the reproducer body. Start at one end of the gasket and work your way around until it's fully seated. Once the needle bar is reconnected and the screw snugged up, melt a small bit of wax over the screw/joint on both sides of the connection.

... and you don't need to add anything between the gaskets and the diaphragm, air never escapes through this gap unless the gaskets are not pressing on the diaphragm, are too small, etc. Usually the small pressure exerted by tight and fresh new gaskets of supple rubber of the right size on the diaphragm edge suffices to seal them air inside and guarantee a good sound transmission.
Just clean thoroughly the diaphragm edges with alcohol or something to make sure they are clean and soft, without grease nor small bits of the old rubber gaskets, etc. that could impair a perfect seal between the diaphragm and the new gaskets.

Thanks for the advice! The needle bar/diaphragm screw was too tight for me to comfortably unscrew it, so I’ve left it all attached for the moment. After removing the outer gasket and the two screws holding the needle bar in place, I was able to very carefully extract the diaphragm and needle bar together. The diaphragm was not stuck to the inner gasket at all, and so it came away easily.

The inner diaphragm came out without too much trouble as well. I somehow managed to preserve 100% of the remaining paper label inside the box, so I’m rather pleased with myself so far.

The inside of the box certainly isn’t immaculate, but it’s not too bad. Should I clean it up at all? I’d rather not have to, as the label inside is quite delicate, and surely the gaskets will still seal in spite of a little bit of grime.

Also, is there an art to measuring the gasket material, or can I just put it in and cut it to length?

I’ve attached a couple of pictures of the soundbox’s present state anyway, so you can have a look for yourselves.

Thanks again,
William