The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I recently got an HMV 101 with a French trademark. Mechanically it is in great shape and plays well. There are some longer thin bubbles in the rexine covering and I am wondering what is the best way to repair these if possible. Also what would you recommend as a preservative or dressing for the cover to keep it in good shape.

Pictures of the issue you are trying to fix would help...

Firstly, try covering the bubbles with a cloth, then smoothing over them with a domestic clothes iron set on hot. If that doesn't work, get hold of a hypodermic syringe, and fill it with thinned pva adhesive. Use a fine needle and inject each bubble gently. Do it too forcefully and you'll force the surrounding rexine to lift.

If I inject the glue, should I clamp something flat on the area until it dries?

Here is a photo, hopefully. Also, would a good black shoe cream work on this material?

51imperial wrote:If I inject the glue, should I clamp something flat on the area until it dries?

There will be no need for clamping. Just press down and remove the glue that oozes out though the needle hole, remove the cloth and rub the repair gently for a few seconds. You need to thin the PVA about 50/50 with water, or until it is thin enough to be drawn up through the needle.

"Also, would a good black shoe cream work on this material?"

Yes, but the best choice would be the liquid black dye for shoe soles, usually a sponge applicator is on the top.

Better test the Kiwi first---if it dries glossy, you might not like it.

Thanks. I’ve never seen that type of polish before.

How did you get along fixing those bubbles in the Rexine?
I have a HMV101 front wind with large bubbles in the Rexine on two sides of the case, see pictures. I wonder if these can be treated in the same way? I am not sure what is the best thing to do and I would appreciate advice from experienced users as this is my first gramophone When I try to flatten them by putting some pressure on the smaller ones, it looks like the rexine has expanded and I worry that if I would inject glue it would not fit nicely anymore or will it become more flexible when the diluted PVA glue is injected?
What would you do?