The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

So my Victor 4-40X has this horn connector. Apparently it is made of pot metal since it is falling apart!

Does anyone know of a modern pipe fitting/ metal connector that I could replace this with? I'm not sure what to call it so I'm having trouble searching for it in hardware stores and on the Internet.

P.S. My Credenza has one of these too. Not sure if it's also pot metal, but it might be! Different shape though.

From your pic, it looks to be solid... what is falling apart?

If you are talking about the gap between the elbow and the collar piece that attaches it... it can be fixed with JB Weld and not replaced.

This is the other side. It's also quite warped.

I would call this a flange. If the pieces connected by this are steel, why did they have to make this from pot metal ? Is it just a connector or does it support the horn? If it is just a connector, correcting the problem will be easy.

I would clean it and use some kind of sealer, probably silicone, at the inlet and outlet. As far as crumbling away, I wouldn't worry about it unless it does which will probably take a long time yet.

Jim

After you apply the sealant, both above & below the flange, also tighten the wood screws that hold the black cast piece to the back of the horn body.

Is the warp affecting the seal with the horn throat? You might be able (after stabilizing the cracks with epoxy or similar) to flatten the mating surface on a belt or disc sander, then use silicone caulk to seal it.

Bill

Lucius1958 wrote:Is the warp affecting the seal with the horn throat? You might be able (after stabilizing the cracks with epoxy or similar) to flatten the mating surface on a belt or disc sander, then use silicone caulk to seal it.

Bill

I'm not sure if it is affecting the seal. I guess I'd have to take it off to see, but that would probably break it. I probably will take it out because I want to access the horn and grille cloth (on the 4-40, you can only take the grille off if you back the horn out of the cabinet, which is strange)

The wooden horn that it connects to has its own weight support in the sides of the cabinet, and the upper pipe/tube is held by the motor board. I believe that it closes a very small space between the two tubes, or just serves as extra support. I have been moving the cabinet a lot and I think this is the only time there is strain on the pot metal connector.