Neat trick for NLA carbs

I have an old '52 5hp Johnson SeaHorse TN24 which was given to me. The carb kits are NLA and I needed a float and wanted to replace the needle and seat. There's an old Marine store nesteled in a rundown district of Detroit where I've found things other places didn't have. I made a trip over to it and picked up three new pawl springs and talked to the old-timer in the back about the carb. He showed me a replacement float for a fuel tank pick-up from a newer boat that would work if I cut it down and applied epoxy to my cut. He also explained that I could use valve-lapping compound on the needle and seat and by spinning it between my fingers I could re-seat them like new. I spent $4 on the cork and $6 apiece for the springs, but the info was free. I made the new float, re-worked the needle and seat and after re-assembling, Lo and behold she fired up on the third pull!!! Just some info I thought might be useful.