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.