I know where one is   there is an antique mall in houston off I-10  it has been there for a long time

This is why I encourage everyone to add their city to their profile - or at the very least a region. This is an international forum and it makes things so much simpler when you can see where someone is from before you reply to requests, be it for parts or complete typewriters.

I happened to be in Boston for a meeting yesterday and was able to stop in to Cambridge Typewriter Co. I peppered Tom Furrier with a bunch of questions on various machines, which he patiently answered. He says that for the Academy, indeed this is a belt issue, and he's been unable to find a replacement belt that works properly. The belt fits into a beveled groove, so that makes it all the harder to find a belt that fits. If you've gotten one that fits and works well, congratulations! I may still open the machine up to see what he means -- he said to remove the four screws that hold the feet on, and remove the top screws from the case (not the ones on the bottom, apparently). I'll have to take another look.

I described also the problem I have with a Selectric (which I also got for free), and I'm encouraged that he thought it might be a simple fix. Now I just have to get back up to Boston....

Typewriter geeks owe it to themselves to go to this place. Not a lot of room, and he doesn't have much for sale besides ribbons, but just to get his thoughts on things is good -- he's a fellow traveler, as it were.

Oh, and I did buy the last copy of Richard Polt's book that he had in stock. Looks really great -- but I figure you all knew that anyway! 

I'm impressed!  Where did they get the material -- vacuum cleaner belt?

I know that this machine uses a V-belt, but if push came to shove, you could try finding a large o-ring which would serve as a belt.  Try automotive stores or engineering suppliers.