The PHILCO Phorum

The time has just about come to put the speaker back into my 37-116. OK - the grill cloth needs to be replaced, but I'm almost ready .

There is a felt "gasket" that goes between the speaker and the board the grill cloth is stuck to. It simply fell off when I removed the speaker. What's the best way to replace this when I reinstall the speaker?

I was thinking I'd use a bit of spray adhesive to stick it to the board before replacing the speaker. Or, I suppose I could install the speaker with the cabinet laying face down while the felt just lays on top of the board. However, that seems problematic and I don't think that's the best orientation for replacing the speaker.

It just seems like it had to be stuck in place when they originally built the radio. I can certainly imagine the glue failing after 84 years.

Greg

I think spray glue is just fine.

You could brush on a contact adhesive; that would probably be much less messy than the spray glue, on such a small surface area.

OK, my own two cents worth... I agree this is such a small and precise area that spray adhesive, while fine on the grill cloth side, may not be ideal for this application. (pun intended) You are looking to merely hold the gasket in position until the speaker can be secured after it. For this I would mix up a small batch of 5 minute 2 part epoxy cement, and spread it thinly over the edge where the gasket will lie, then position the gasket. It will remain soft long enough so you can reposition the gasket if you don't get it quite right immediately. With contact cement that is not such an option. (Been there, done that in slightly different circumstances) That's why I would use 2 part epoxy for this.

I would use something less permanent like a double sided tape, maybe several short strips.