The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I posted in the Yankee Trader, that I needed leather for a Credenza brake.
I am wondering if my automatic brake has been damaged by a previous owner.
Is some of the metal that would surround the leather missing?
If so, is there something I can do to make a repair?
Please see photos.
As always, thanks for the help!
Gene

Is some of the metal that would surround the leather missing?

Yes...the other metal prong that crimps the leather has broken off.

Outside of replacing the brake assembly I suppose you could have another
metal prong fabricated and soldered (welded?) on. (Has anybody ever had that done?)

Alternately, a little super glue might work just as well to bond and hold the leather
to the remaining prong after its tightened down and if repairs ever needed to
be done in the future then you use a little acetone and it dissolves the bond,
leather pops off.

As Dave said, one of the prongs is broken. I just recently purchased a brake thru eBay for mine. If you look you will find one, it took me about a month. I posted here looking for one, but not one replied. George V will most likely have one. I would guess around $30 total incl shipping (give or take a couple of $). I have broken one of these before on another brake. I installed the leather and used shrink tubing and a heat gun to hold the leather in place until I could buy a replacement brake. Soldering one one would probably work for a while, but I have not done it. Good Luck!

Thanks,

Matt

You might save this brake by sawing right under the broken prong about half-way over to the good prong. Heat the metal red with a torch and bend upwards to make a new prong that you can pinch in the leather with.