Finding a re-chrome company is tough and spendy. <snip> The toxic nature of the process with vats of chemicals/acids makes one leery of entering. I had to rethink my desires when I was told $300 for the three items.
Sounds about right...the folks I had do ours are out in the boonies and the only one in the state.
I believe it was about $250 for these small pieces:
Shari
__________________
Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008
WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005)
AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Aaaagghhh Barry, Don't chop that up! Wait till VTS comes out with the real thing. Is the one you have in good condition?
I think all of these porch lights would be ideal converted to LED.
The unit I picked up is in great shape and no longer has the electronics in it. No pits whatsoever and I doubt it has ever actually been mounted on a trailer although if it has, not for very long. I do intend to use a light that is solar powered so will have to do a bit of drilling to ensure the battery gets recharged during the day. I am sorting out how to do this so it looks like it was original. I think I will have quite a few rainy off season nights to ponder and figure it out.
Barry
__________________ The best things in life are health, family, friends and enjoying your Airstream in a campground. Wally on Bro
Barry & Donna Life is short - so's the door on an Flying Cloud (ouch)
Well if you get tired of pondering on it, let me know. I'll make sure you don't loose money selling it!
Anyone else out there got one of these you want to get rid of?
Thanks Reggiemon. I've got two buds doing resto's on their early Flying Clouds and one has already requested first right of refusal should I sell it. he was with me when I bought it so feels he has a vested interest. He would do the same as I'm thinking-somehow convert it to a porch light. I had a quick look again today and this is not going to be as straight forward as I originally hoped.
Oh well, we will get it done. May end up using it the way it was intended but with the solar light installed. I found a modern porch light that is solar powered that I will order and see if I can take it apart and use it.
Take care,
Barry
__________________ The best things in life are health, family, friends and enjoying your Airstream in a campground. Wally on Bro
Barry & Donna Life is short - so's the door on an Flying Cloud (ouch)
Thanks, Barry. I have been looking for a door side handle & having the light at the bottom would be a good plus. I'll keep hunting.
The light on Ebay is getting pricy......if VTS does come up with both styles of porch light that would be a good alternative unless you MUST have original parts for your museum trailer!
We'll be making both porch lights with 110v rated electrical innards. I understand that 12v is all that's needed for some people, but many people who are restoring old trailers don't want to convert. If you have converted to 12v to run your porch light, just put a different bulb in the fixture. They'll come with candelabra style screw bases (E12). 12v E12 bulbs cost about 90 cents.
These will be made by the same foundry that does our H20-2 lock handles. If you've seen those handles, you know the quality. They'll be cast from aircraft grade aluminum alloy and triple chrome plated. They'll be gorgeous.
As for price, you're right...more than $20. We don't have our costs all nailed down, but it's looking like we'll need to charge around $125 each. I know that's the case on the Spartan version which is slightly larger and has more curves. I hate like heck to charge that much but it's the nature of high quality, low volume reproductions.
Timeline? I'm guessing late winter.
By the way, we're also doing the handle for the Bargman L-77 lock shown in a previous post on this thread. It was used for a few years around 1960 on Airstreams.
Let me know if I can answer any questions. I'm also open to advice!
Thanks for posting Steve!
As the Ebay item has gone over $200.00, who is to quibble about $125.00 for a quality product.
It looks like I will be one of the group interested in the #77 vertical lock handle!
Barry, send Steve the #22 porch handle so it can be reproduced before you chop it up, please...........
Finding a re-chrome company is tough and spendy. I wanted to have this "scare light," my license plate light holder, and the X-brace legs from my vintage table re-chromed. I was recommended to a place in industrial/residential Richmond, CA. (Wear your Kevlar!) Going there, I realized why they are hard to find. The toxic nature of the process with vats of chemicals/acids makes one leery of entering. I had to rethink my desires when I was told $300 for the three items.
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