Repairing desk pen base?

[Dreck]

Wow! That's a gorgeous holder, Hawk. Thanks for the pictures. Unfortunately, contriving a safe fix for this setup is far beyond my mechanical ken. I agree that it looks like the socket is crimped around the ball, but I've no good suggestions for home repair. If you could remove the ball by removing the socket from the base, and you had access to a good metalworker's setup you might be able to re-crimp the edges of the socket without scarring the brass--but there are a lot of big "if's" in there.
If there is a little hidden spring that provides friction between the ball and socket, you might try *gently* stretching it out a *tiny* bit.
Earlier in the thread, I recommended blue Loctite. If I misunderstood what you said about a hidden spring and tightening the screw that holds the socket to the base doesn't work like you need it to, you might try Loctite. I'd do it by leaning the trumpet all the way over to one side and then putting a tiny drop of Loctite right at the edge where the ball meets the edge of the socket, waiting a few minutes, and then leaning it all the way over to the other side and giving it another tiny drop of Loctite. Blue Loctite will not be permanently adhesive; it should provide just enough stick and tack to help keep the ball in place--but it wouldn't be my first choice for this repair.
Whatever you try, please keep us updated

[Hawk]

Dreck, thank you for the complement. I enjoy the pen very much. Too bad I don’t organize my desk. I have it and some others in a glass Moore case.
I will think about the Locktite. My only reservation would be that it gets on the spring or spring assembly and gum it up. Probably there is a cup with a pin to hold the spring resting against the ball. There isn’t a way to get at the spring from the underside. Making a die to swage the socket a bit may be the way to go but it would be cost prohibitive to make. I’m sure that is the way it was assembled at the factory.
I will keep you informed on my progress, if any.