The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

LaoChe85 wrote: Wed Jul 16, 2025 4:05 am Would you think it is worth prying the soundbox apart then JerryVan? It doesn’t damage the mica as I can remove this first so it’s out of the way.

This soundbox looks like it has a lot of potential so I’d really like to replace those isolators if possible.

Please post a photo of what you've got so far.

So while I was taking it apart to the stage I got to before with the mica removed etc the back actually just came off on its own, quite cleanly too. I can see now that the rubber is very brittle and will need replacing. Although I am not entirely sure what to use, so if anyone could suggest a material that would be great! I think making these isolators is the only way due to their specifications.

Overall though, this soundbox looks like it will clean up nicely and the mica might last a little longer if I am careful. I have put back together a Exhibition before and that one works well as far as I can tell so this should be no different hopefully.

Similar to what you're doing for the motor mount rubber washers, buy some rubber sheet of the correct thickness and cut out the new isolators. A fairly soft rubber should suffice.

I have used tap washers which could be stacked if necessary on a previous restoration of an old HMV.
Can be a bit of a fiddle keeping the washer in place while refixing the motor to the board, only a little cussing required.

LaoChe85 wrote: Wed Jul 16, 2025 1:34 pm So while I was taking it apart to the stage I got to before with the mica removed etc the back actually just came off on its own, quite cleanly too. I can see now that the rubber is very brittle and will need replacing. Although I am not entirely sure what to use, so if anyone could suggest a material that would be great! I think making these isolators is the only way due to their specifications.

As Jerry has said, the best material to use, and probably as close as you'll get to the original stuff, is natural rubber sheet of a similar thickness. If you can find some with a hardness (durometer) value specified, somewhere around 60 or less would be ideal - fairly soft.

Thank you for all the suggestions everyone,
I will definitely keep this in mind however I have messaged John Sleep in case he had a part I could use and to my surprise he does! I missed out on a cheaper part from John once because I didn't ask him beforehand - I try not to ever make this mistake again now because John has nearly everything at a fair price and he's been really helpful in general.

I will still have to buy some rubber for the washers/spacers for the motor but this is fine - I'll probably have some left over for future projects too.

Just a little update on the restoration,
I received some rubber today in the mail and made some washers for the motor, this worked really well and the motor is somewhat level now.

However, I have caused myself to have another problem and a very silly one at that. I'm probably going to anger a few on here but I thought I had let the motor run down completely but I guess there was a little left so when I took apart the sped regulator to insert a new pad of felt, the governor span out of control and broke off two weights. I have found both weights and asked John Sleep in case he has some replacement spring things but I know this is a very scarce area in replacement parts. I'm very annoyed because I thought I had done everything correctly.

In regards to the sound box rebuild, I am still yet to receive the part from John but he said he will get to me as soon as he can.

If no luck with John Sleep, I might possibly have springs to fit.

Update:
I have sent the governor off to John Sleep to fix and received it back yesterday. I have put it back in and adjusted the speed regulator as well as replaced the pad. All seems to work fine on the motor now apart from the governor itself making a lot of noise - like a whirring noise. As far as I can tell, its not coming into contact with anything so I'm a little confused as to what it could be, if anyone could hazard a guess that would be great!

My next move is to fix the sound box but it turns out John didn't have a replacement rubber isolator so I've decided to make it myself. John Sleep recommended car tyre inner tubes and I will see how much this costs but I was also thinking just of making it out of the same material my washers were for the motor board (obviously in a thinner sheet though). If anyone has any suggestions on this, I would be grateful.

Whirring governor might be the end bushings worn out. Are they made from brass? Some photos of that area, the bushings, etc... even a short video, would be very illustrative for us to understand and try to help...