Can't see how Jim as no evidence of fixing methods.
I've googled around in the last 1/2 hour and the pics I've seen of early machines shows most of them with damage similar to mine so it must be a weakness. I'm leaning towards a full 6 sided support probably alloy
and shaped phenolic inserts with a hold down screw. Peters' comment about extending the apperture in the r/h table makes sense.