The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Any tips, help etc. on the best way to remove a stuck and petrified flange gasket from the back of these soundboxes would be appreciated. I've tried as much force as I dare after loosening the set screws.

Sometimes heat will work. On particularly stubborn ones, I've had to use a Dremel to get it out. If it's a 4A, be careful. Those are made of pot metal, so they can break if stressed. The Victor #4s are brass, and much sturdier.

A heat gun & some hooked dental picks worked very well for me.

Happily, it's a brass body 4

Remove the set screws and soak it overnight in penetrating oil. Most of all, be patient. This usually works for me.

Matt

Success I resorted to using a jewelers saw to cut a notch in the brass inner ring, then pry that out, which allowed me to break up the petrified rubber. I would never try to change one of these on a pot metal 4 though.

A couple of minutes with a heat gun would have worked easily. I use that method for the rubber isolators and they almost fall out. What brass inner ring are you referring to?

Jim

You could have also tried drilling, (with extreme care), a circular pattern of small holes through the rubber to allow the brass center to come out. Then scrape & pick the remaining rubber away.

Anyway, looks like you've got it licked!

Thanks to everyone for suggestions. The heat gun did not work for me. I had an additional problem that one of the set screws was in so far it would not back out. The jewelers saw was relatively painless and once the brass inner ring was out the "rubber" (more like cement) could be broken up. The Victrola 4 (brass body) is my go-to favorite soundbox. I think the pivot needle bar allows for the best sound.