Weldbond Universal Adhesive -- the "Universal Space Age Adhesive" --
was around for several years, but I haven't seen it on the shelves
for a couple of years at Home Depot nor at Lowes.  However when
I called their number I was told it is carried by Ace Hardware.

It is made by Frank Ross and Sons in Illinois.  It looks like
white glue but acts quite differently.  It is sold as a glue and
bonding agent for concrete, plaster, tile or foam plastic.  It adheres
to almost anything, and dries to a clear, shiny surface which is
weatherproof.  It is more like Durrell Armstrong's plastic glue than
anything else.

Corroded and powdery 1" lead nipples were cleaned with steel wool
(using a dust mask, of course) and then several coats of Weldbond were
applied.  It hardend and bonded with the lead and seems stable.  I left
one of the restored nipples in the desert sun for a few days and it
did not break down.

Twenty years ago I used Weldbond for a patch on the original 1926
Duo-Art pump where a factory original hole was in the side of the
cloth.  It looked like a screw driver or thick knife had made a hole.
I patched it with split deerskin leather using this glue and it is
still playing today without a breakdown.

Out of curiosity I spread it on a discarded pneumatic to see how it
behaved.  It made the cloth very air tight and shiny, but as expected,
the thick layer I applied made the old rubber cloth a bit stiff.

Weldbond can be bought on Internet from
http://www.shopnontoxic.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=2

Bill Chapman, AMICA Membership Secretary
La Quinta (Palm Springs), Calif.

 [ Frank T. Ross & Sons Ltd. : http://www.franktross.com/
 [ -- Robbie