This is a way out remote possibility for your situation, but happened in the '80s to a similar system just after rare earth magnets became easily available and switch mode power supplies starting to be the norm .
Technician liked to stick notes/papers on the side of a power cabinet with...
Only now just found this site.
Could add one item to watch for to list in original post that is often forgotten - that is hole tolerance and the zipper effect - which I never heard about in school many years ago.
