Restoring Question

[photax]

Hi !

Maybe someone could help me with this problem: Some weeks ago I found this late 1880`s, or early 1890`s special shaped stereo-card viewer as a flea market bargain .It looks almost new but one wooden lens surrounding is broken (tension crack) and I have no idea how to fix it. You can remove the lens, but you can not unscrew the brass tube on which this part is mounted, so I fear there is no way for glueing it together. Any ideas ? Help will be very much appreciated .
The last chance is finding a defective one for exchange parts, most of the around 1900 viewers have tubes with the same diameter…

MIK

[Doug T.]

Hi MIK!
That's a nice looking piece you've found
It's hard to glue something like that once it's split.
If it were me, I'd try to fill it with something like a piece of veneer (furnier).
Apply some wood glue to both sides of the veneer, slide it into the crack, then after it's dry ( leave it overnight ) carefully trim and color it to match.
There are other things you can try as well, like a wax or shellac filler.

Doug

[nikonbob]

I am thinking along the lines of what Doug said. It looks like a clean break, maybe where the wood was originally joined, possibly caused by shrinkage. If you just glue it without adding a filler piece it may just split again. If you know a professional furniture restorer they may know the right technique to use.

Bob

[photax]

Thank you guys ! Some interesting suggestions

MIK