Bluemike,
Sorry to hear that. You might want to ask around to find out whether one can use a Philips drive e.g. CDM12 as a replacement. Although a lot of people do not like the Philips drives (even the CD PRO2), one can always find parts if these drives died, even the old CDM 4.
I will be uncomfortable using old laser heads. They only have certain hours of life time. But if you can get an old player real cheap from which you can extract the part you need, there is no harm in trying. I was told that the operation of replacing the transport mechanism (including the laser head) is fairly straightforward and hopefully the labour cost would not be too high.
By the way, if you are going to organise a small "listening get together" please let me know. Thanks!
Lo-tse