There was a point in time where VPI would do repair-refurbishment on the older Bearings. Not at all trying to be rude against VPI, but they selected specific sub-contractors, and shops to do much, if not all the work.
Or had parts, like if one ever needed those little Tungsten Carbide Thrust Bearings, which are actually smaller than an Aspirin. I had acquired a couple maybe 8 years ago, they had some in stock.
But in a worst case scenario, and let's say you need one of those little Discs, and VPI does no longer have them, all is not lost.
Because that Thrust Plate Disc is merely epoxy glued to the inside Threaded Bottom Brass Plug on the Bearing Well. That the Plug itself could be thrown into a 350 degree Oven to break the Glue's bond, clean and re-glue the Thrust Plate, as there are 2 flat sides to this small circular Disc. It looks like a small Pill. Thus you again have a fresh, undamaged surface.
There is a machined depression in that Brass Plug where the Thrust Bearing sits, so it will be no problems for proper centering of the Thrust Plate Bearing.
As for the Upper Bushing, that becomes harder to deal with if the Bushing is damaged by excessive wear due to lack of lubrication.
But a good machinist would be able to remove the old and install a new bushing.
I think most of those upper Bushings were usually bronze, but there may have been examples of VPI using Rulon, or such synthetics as well.
Hell, a very good Machinist would be able to make an entirely new Platter Bearing, instead of a 1/2" Shaft, it could be 3/4", as long as certain dimensions are adhered to, that the new Bearing-Spindle properly fit the Platter, one would only be needing to enlarge the Plinth to Mount the new Bearing.
Sky's the limit in a sense dependent upon time, money, and the right person making such parts.
Galabier design made such massive bearings, but were probably more required in being that some of their Platters hovered around the 40lb mark.
What VPI used though was adequate for all the Platters they made.
The ultimate Platter that one could probably ever hope to acquire for the HW-19, that title probably would go to their Super Platter, which weighed 25lbs, and could be used on the VPI HR-X Table. There were two versions, and yes, one was made specifcallly for the HW-19 Table.
I think when it was offered, that Platter was something like $1000-$1100.
Today, and if VPI still had that same Platter for sale, the price would likely be $2,000 and above.
There was once a point in time, where VPI Platters were popping up all over the place. Folks taking one Platter off their Table, whatever it was, HW-19 Model, TNT, Aries, and upgrading the Platter, thus it was sometimes not hard to upgrade the simplest and least expensive HW-19 Table Model, the Junior, and take that Table to a much higher level of sonics.
I know, because I did such myself to my lowly Junior Model. I installed a early all Delrin, Lead Ring Platter that was from a MK-IV Table I believe. Best I could measure on a Bathroom Scale, this Platter weighs 16lbs.
The original frosted Acrylic Platter on the Junior weighed 6lbs.
Mass can also be added by Platter Clamps or Weights. Due to it's Diameter though (11.5") no Periphery Rings that VPI sells will fit such Platters.
