These are the noses/collets. Left is the older / machined style. Right is the newer / cast style. Note the cracking in the cast style. They thread onto the mount plate base.

Thanks for posting this!

-Mark

Based on the fact that you have a mix of machined and cast collet assembly noses, I think it may be worth noting that Rogers did vary the overall "assembly" somewhat from the early bread and butter lug era with machined noses to the final 9/72 era that had the cast noses. I seem to recall that too can have an effect on whether or not the assembly will tighten properly to the hex rods.

So, for example, if someone substituted a plate or collet nose from an earlier or later version that was not integral to the original "assembly" as it came from the factory (usually due to weld failure, cracking cast collet nose or just because the chrome got corroded), they may not want to assemble properly and hold tightly.

One identifier of older plates is less holes. In the illustration Amosguy provided for a 9/72 era assembly, it calls for one nose and 4 bolts. Late 50's and early 60's plates sometimes only have two holes. However, I think even some versions with 4 holes may not be entirely matched-up through the entire manufacturing period in which Swivomatic mounts were used.

Thanks for all of your responses! I am learning about these and I appreciate the clarifying information!

I guess I'll be on the lookout for some machined collet noses.

In the pictures that both Mark and amosguy posted, I am failing to see where the cast noses are cracking. Maybe I need new glasses? Is the cracking near the top, narrow hole that faces out when on the drum?

In general, is there usually any problems with the threaded "fingers" on the mounting plates, or does those usually hold up well?

Thanks again for all the info!

Hi V!

Here's a cropped picture of the cast nose. You should be able to see how it is developing multiple cracks. As the cracks grow larger, you have to tighten the nose more. It gets to the point where no amount of tightening will hold the hex rod!

As to the collet "fingers", they tend to go through life with no real issues. I have Swivo plates from the 60's that still look and work like new!

-Mark

The Nose almost always starts developing hair line cracks at the top where it is rounded off. That's where maximum pressure is exerted. I may be wrong, but I also suspect that these cast Collet noses were also made from pot metal, where as the machined versions were steel. Never had a problem with the Threaded receiver fingers/prongs.

-Kurt

Didn't some of the earlier machined collett noses have the "wings" screw into the body of the collett nose?

Correct, and the part generally referred to as the "nose" is technically called the "collet nut".

Hi Slingerfan!

I just looked through quite a few Rogers catalogs and each one refers to this part as the "collet nose". I was hoping to find one that showed it as a "nut" but came up empty.

First two pictures are from the 1964 catalog. The third picture is from the 1970 Accessories catalog, which also gave this a new part number!

-Mark

i have found that the “fingers” can wear a bit over time and don’t provide a good clamping action onto the hex rod or spur. i have been successful with using a rubber headed mallet to gently hammer the fingers together towards each other a little bit. then when tightening the collet nut, more force is applied. it has to be done gently so as not to snap off the fingers. it seemed to work well for me when i had the exact problem you desctibe. i also recommend the machined collets. dave drew makes them. he is located in woonsockett rhode island.