The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Have you even seen one made of pot metal?
I don't want to break the ring, don't want to break the mica...
I just put it in the freezer, I'll leave it there for a day.

If anybody has any suggestions, I didn't even know these came with a pot metal ring...

And, use a real penetrating lubricant like PenLube, Kroil, or MouseMilk.

Be extremely careful. These are very prone to split at the screw holes when you try to take them off!

Ken Danckaert

I would first pull the gasket out so that is not holding things together, then apply a suitable penetrant between the inside of the ring and the reproducer body. After that, put it back in the freezer overnight. When you take it out, pry gently with a suitable tool and it should come out.

If that were mine I would just make another out of aluminum, there are so many cracks in it, no matter what you do, it will break.
You can see the convex cupping of the ring from the swelling.

JeffR1 wrote: Sat Jul 16, 2022 11:17 pm If that were mine I would just make another out of aluminum, there are so many cracks in it, no matter what you do, it will break.
You can see the convex cupping of the ring from the swelling.

Yes, I had that thought, but I'm no aluminum-smith. I'll just try very hard to get it out in one piece and if that doesn't work, see if I can't find a reproducer to borrow the ring from...

Thanks for everyone's suggestions and input, I know what I'm doing with my Sunday!

You don't need to be an aluminum smith, you do need the tools, that's the problem.
The barest minimum to get the job done would be a hand drill, Dremel tool, the correct files, a compass scribe, centre punch and a vice.
Drill press and lathe would be best and the easiest.

Finding the correct flat stock of course, but that shouldn't be too difficult.

A buffing wheel too, but those are surprisingly inexpensive these days.

Just thinking out loud.

By the time you buy the seals and the lubricant you may still damage that ring. Just contact someone that repairs reproducers like Wyatt Markus and have it done correctly and without being damaged. I have broken and lost so many tiny parts that I gave up. Wyatt does a great job and is always helpful. I can highly recommend him.

There was no way of removing this without it breaking. It did break right along the bolt holes and so I'll be making one out of aluminum. Let me rephrase that: I will be discovering which friend of mine has the talent for precision work in aluminum