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Hi Can anyone tell me the sizes for the screws holding the carrier bar in position on the bedplate of the Edison Gem late model A. I need a few if anyone has any spare. I also need the spring clip for the stop/start mechanism inside the case.It is about 9/16" wide and and 5/16" long.
You can PM me if you have any pieces. Thanks

post this in the Yankee Trader section

Hi,
Edison used a lot of 5-40 size screws. I am not home or I would check it out for you.
You are not likely to find that size at your local hardware store. In fact, most chain hardware stores are becoming more and more useless for hardware. One chain here in Michigan is a great place for scented candles, plastic flowers, cheap dvd movies, and stuff like that. Forget about anyhting hardware related. I never shop there anymore...
Dave

If I have at least one spring as a sample I usually go to the local Fastenall store and have them measure and special order a bunch. You may have to pay a few bucks for the special order, but I never paid more than maybe 8 or 9 bucks for a bag of 10. Still seems a lot for a few tiny screws, but beats driving around for hours to find them. They might also be able to measure it if your bring the receiving part there.

Andreas

On the topic of oddball Edison screws, I was trying last week to determine the thread pitch of screws that hold down the cast iron governor cover on an Edison Amberola 30. After acquiring that machine, I had bought an original cover and original screws to complete the restoration. The previous owner had repainted the bed plate and did not bother to plug the holes while painting. Both holes in the bedplate were completely filled with enamel and I had considered drilling out the paint and then cleaning out the threads with a tap. With screws in hand, I tried to find a nut of known dimensions to determine the thread pitch. The screws seem to be a #6 diameter, but a 6-32 nut will not go on. Compared to a 6-32 screw, the original screw threads are coarser. Someone suggested it might be a 6-28, an odd ball size today, but I'm not really sure. Does anyone know for certain?

I finally side-stepped the problem another way - I slowly dissolved the paint in the hole with MEK - Methyl Ethyl Ketone (butanone), an extremely volatile solvent. I used a tiny jeweller's screwdriver to drill out the excess enamel without damaging the threads. To avoid ruining the painted bedplate with the excess of such a powerful solvent, I repeatedly dipped wood toothpicks into the MEK and quickly inserted them into the hole and slowly dissolved layers of enamel until I reached threads. To clean out the threads, I whittled out a larger tapered toothpick from a bamboo chopstick. After dipping in MEK, I gently twisted the chopstick back and forth in the hole until it began to be engraved with threads from the hole. I had chased enough gunk from the hole threads until I had a toehold for the screw to enter the hole and grab hold of a few threads. Being careful not to cross-thread the screw, I got it started and slowly worked the screw back and forth to clear out the remaining gunk for the entire depth of the hole.