Plastic snap-on pad retainers

[HMannfan]

Hi everyone. I am new to this message board. I am old enough to know better, but dumb enough to try my hand at minor flute repairs.

My present problem involves my almost 50 year old Selmer Signet flute. I've had it since 1965. Bought new. Coin silver, open hole, C foot, excellent condition, but needs new pads.

Our local resident flute repairman retired. I've read everything I could find on this subject. I decided to try my hand at re-padding using my old Selmer as fodder.

The problem: The closed hole key pads are held in place by plastic buttons that snap onto the outside of the key center post. When removing one of these plastic buttons it unsnapped and vanished! I cannot find it anywhere! I have been unable to find a replacement source. If any of you are familiar with these and know where I can buy them, I would be very grateful.

Another possible solution: The key center post appears to be threaded inside. I would prefer to use screws and washers in place of the plastic snaps. Does anyone have any idea what size screw might fit? 1-64 or 1-72 machine screw perhaps? But I have no idea the length required either. Any thoughts?

[pied_piper]

The Selmer Signet flute shares many common parts like the pad snaps, pad washers and screws with the Bundy flute. Most of the mass produced American flutes used 1-64 pad screws and that should be true of the Selmer made flutes. I believe that the nylon pad snaps are still available. They are still listed in at least one of my recent parts catalogs and are sold as a complete set of 13 snaps. Any reasonably well-stocked band instrument repair shop may have them in stock and might be willing to sell them individually, but some shops will not sell parts at all because they are in the repair business and only use those parts on instruments that they repair. The same is true for the pad screws and washers. I have a few of the pad screws and washers, but I don't seem to have any of the nylon snaps in stock right now.

[mirwa]

J L Smith sell them, Votaw Im pretty sure sell them, maybe even music medic, the other repair suppliers sell them as well but you need to be registered as a business with them usually first.

I have draws full of old snap ons, whats, pm me with your postal address

If I loose a plastic retainer I swap it out for a screw and retainer

[JButky]

Contact Ferree's Tools in MI. You can buy any and all of those parts. Anyone can set up an account with them.

I believe those are called nylon tone boosters, part #C60 from Ferree's.

[HMannfan]

Thank all of you for the responses. It is most encouraging. I will check the suppliers you each mentioned. I have looked on the JLSmith sight without success, but finding things there can be difficult. I'll try Ferree's again.

JButkey: nylon tone booster, huh? Nylon doesn't really "sound" like a good "tone booster" to me.

pied-piper: sometimes I wish I didn't own any screwdrivers! You can take ANYthing apart with a good set of screwdrivers. You should see all the stuff in my garage.

Like I said in my first posting, I'd prefer to replace them with screws and washers. I looked at the key post again, this time with my microscope. I'm sure those are threads I see in there. I'll just have to order some and find out. I took a pad screw out of an Armstrong flute that I have. It didn't fit. Threads seemed wrong. I can't tell what size screw the Armstrong uses. I have never worked with things this small before. They are a little bit smaller than the nuts and bolts in my old Ford.

mirwa: I don't know how to PM (yet!). I'll find out. It has only been since my retirement that I have had time to explore message boards. I am starting to see how interesting, fun, and informative they can be. I'm certainly glad I found this one.

Thank all of you again for all your help. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

[pied_piper]

mirwa: I don't know how to PM (yet!). I'll find out.

I believe new members don't gain the ability to PM until you have posted about 10 approved messages. At the bottom of each message, there is a PM button:

You won't be able to PM until you can see the button.

[mirwa]

Thanks pied

steve@mirwa.com.au

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