try looking for this thread:
Forums The Shop Area Interiors '51 speedo needle removal
it's like 4 pages of posts with many photos, should help you out
-s
Much obliged sir, I've pulled it out again but this time, reading first... probably wishful thinking but might as well give'r an honest and better informed try. I have some rare earth magnets here too as far as the magnetizing goes.
Certainly makes all the symptoms I've seen now make sense - I was looking at the design all wrong.