Jazz Record Restorer John R.T. Davies Dies - Page 2

A dissecting microscope - binocular - 20x and 40x. Greater magnification might seem desirable for microgrooves but tools for working on microgrooves are very difficult to create and even more difficult to wield.

"Chinagraph" black and white. White is easier to work with because of contrasting visibility and lower fluidity temperature. Black- more difficult to see what you’re doing - can effect a repair invisible to the naked eye. Melted in with the tip of a heated darning needle, surplus can be planed off with a slicing motion of a razor blade; the new surface can then be buffed smooth before pilot grooves are cut. Hold the tool, move the work

Edison amberol wax (more amenable than the two-minute material) will provide a fine, durable new surface for larger repairs, but (having poor adhesive property) needs to be bedded in chinagraph. The Edison wax needs to be cut lightly/repeatedly to prevent chipping; tendency to chip can be reduced by blending with black chinagraph (which seems to mix more readily/evenly than white).

Odd bits of post-1932 EMI (post-1936 English Decca) records. This material has a relatively low melting point and will actually flow without its nature being changed.

A miniature soldering iron with interchangeable bits. One bit is of the "spade" type with a groove cut along the width of the tip (this affords control and heat for insertion of pins (0.035" diameter hard brass) to stabilize cracks and to create bridges for rebuilding bites); another is a slimly tapered point useful for adding material (as in bite reconstruction) also for non-contact leveling of new (Edison) - wax surfaces - this is also useful for "welding" wax cylinders from the inside!

Razor blades. Useful for paring off surpluses, unsharpened edges will provide hard right-angled edges which perform very well in fining up of larger areas of new surfaces prior to grooving.

Bolsters. Sundry pieces of flat metal with suitable arc to support the edges of records pressed in the manner of European Pathe or turn-of-the century pressings with raised rims during pinning and other operations inhibited by non-flat edge conformations.

Jigging. The aluminum plate has, at the center of its underside a hole to receive a turntable spindle so that broken records may be assembled, adjusted and clamped .. and played in that condition; this is particularly useful in the case of glass-based discs. It is necessary, of course, to raise the pick-up arm mounting by half an inch.

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