This is from a Gottlieb Queen of Diamonds. It is quite thick and can barely bend it by hand. Like to avoid taking off the number cover if I can. I'm in no rush so any long term process is fine with me.

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Mike V

Interesting as I was thinking this stuff has properties more like masonite but always assumed it was Bakelite. The challenge to get a new part crafted or this easily flattened is the metal fixture in the middle. I don't think that it can come out without destroying it.

Mike V

The Allen head screw fastens the collar to a shaft which I already removed. The collar is two pieces of metal sandwiched together. It can't be removed without destroying something

Mike V

Interesting update:

Steve Young from PBR saw this thread and asked me to give him a call so did just that. He says that it is not actually Bakelite but a Bakelite/resin fiber 'lasagna' of sorts.

His advice for flattening it was to separate the plastic light shield wet the board a touch and rig a jig to hold it flat. Since he never tried it he had no guidelines as to how long or exactly how much force to apply.

He did give some insight into additional discs that were used through the years as I enquired about possibly using one from a Dodge City. He as usual had all the answers and several NOS ones to give me some info. Turns out all the contact points are different on each ones and the later versions mount differently. He did say that the later ones light shields didn't do the same destruction as mine since they used different material at that point.

So I'm going to rig the jig and let it sit for 2 weeks and report back ..

Mike V

Funny .. I was thinking along the same lines. If it fails cut the warped outer ring off and then find one from a Dodge City that Steve said most likely would still be flat. Cut the inner ring away from that but leave a slight overlap and fasten those together.

Mike V

After listening to Steve and him mentioning that an NOS from that era he had was warped the same way led me to think heat isn't necessary though I guess it could speed it up but it is an unknown variable that could damage it.

Since this is a back burner project that I'm collecting parts for I have time on my side so we'll try the jig and report back

Mike V

According to Steve Young his NOS ones warped the same way. They were never exposed to incandescent bulbs. The plastic light shield simply shrinks and takes the base with it since those early ones are unstable. I figure I'll go safe first.

Mike V

Here is an update:

I had to source a hard ring to mount the disc on. I used a ventilation cover with the center knocked out. I proceeded to drill out only the outer rivets and attached 5 clamps. One each on the spot were rivets were removed.

This was done only a two days ago and haven't dared to check it yet. Will report back in two weeks now.

Mike V

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Update:

I checked it at two weeks with minimal change. Let it go for another 6 weeks and it is as good as this jig good do:

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Though not ‘flat’ at least the ‘wobble’ look is gone when it is spun. Also not the rivet holes don’t line up anymore because the plastic has shrunk as noted earlier.

Looking for a thin metal ring to screw in place to further smooth the spin. Will report back if I can find one.

Mike V