Several years ago I recall Shop Services in Iowa had the ability to cast replica builder's and number plates for a fee. Since they are now defunct, does any other shop in the country provide this service?

This can be done by any pattern shop or foundry. I would call some of the bigger hobby/train shops as I am sure they can get this done. In southern California The whistle stop in Pasadena has the contacts to get this done.

Robert@trainorders.com

> This can be done by any pattern shop or
> foundry.

Perhaps, but it would probably be better to use a foundry that has already done locomotive replica plates, as they are already familiar with it and may have existing patterns available. Would be better than duplicating efforts.



rickrailrd@aol.com

I need to check with Doug, but I think the replica plates for the 4501 (plus items for the A and J) were cast by Alabama Copper and Bronze in Birmingham, AL. I know they've done crown brasses for both NS and TVRM so I am quite sure they did the builder's plates as well.

Mark

aw90h@cs.com

Hey, what about the guys across the street from you? If Linn and company can cast injector bodies, surely they've done a few builder's plates or number plates!!!

aw90h@cs.com

If you are only looking for a replica to be used indoors for decorative purposes, a latex rubber mold and resin casting may suffice. I have several of these, painted or stained to simulate original finishes. They were purchased about 10 years ago in Wisconsin - unfortunately I have no data on the manufacturer.


tmanz@afo.net

A trip through eBay often shows dozens of resin replicas (ticks me off, since you have to read the full description to find out they are fake). You might check with the seller. Or, maybe you can use one of the replicas as a "base", just changing the numbers or date.

> If you are only looking for a replica to be
> used indoors for decorative purposes, a
> latex rubber mold and resin casting may
> suffice. I have several of these, painted or
> stained to simulate original finishes. They
> were purchased about 10 years ago in
> Wisconsin - unfortunately I have no data on
> the manufacturer.


Kevinmccabe@avenew.com

> A trip through eBay often shows dozens of
> resin replicas (ticks me off, since you have
> to read the full description to find out
> they are fake). You might check with the
> seller. Or, maybe you can use one of the
> replicas as a "base", just
> changing the numbers or date.

I purchased one of these for a reference to make a builders plate for our Vulcan engine. It was not good enough to be used for a pattern even if I changed the date and builders number. It was however good enough to get measurements and letter style. I then made a pattern using particle board and plastic letters I bought at a Staples Office supply store. I then poured several plates using a small foundry furnace that I purchased at an auction of old school shop equipment. I poured some aluminum (old storm window frames) and some brass (old plumbing fixtures). If you can make a pattern I am sure that a high school, trade school etc would be willing to pour them for you.



johncgra@locl.net

Actually, I kinda like the idea of those resin "fakes". IMHO it is MUCH better to supply the market demand that way than have some rail"fan" liberate the plates from an engine in preservation. (I hear in some Moslem countries they still chop off a thief's hands, that might slow them down a bit)
Besides, the prices aren't that bad, and (on the good ones anyway) you really have to look close (or pick them up) to tell that they are resin.

I DO mind those people who collect steam and railroad artifacts, and generate outrageous sums for said items.... without inquiring closely into the piece's history. (Or, worse yet, trade in stuff they know is hot.) Perhaps someday the rail preservation community will have the co-operation and "spare" money to pool into a reward fund to help put a stop that kind of activity.

I would recommend Larry Curran at Curran Castings. Larry has reproduced many number & builder's plates for us not only from patterns but also from original plates. He would prefer to cast from patterns and does his best work this way, but he is also capable of working from the original plates. Larry does this as a hobby on a time-available basis, so be patient. His work is well worth the wait and his prices are reasonable.

One word of caution ... let's not flood the market with a bunch of fake plates. Have reproductions made for your personal collections or for restoration projects only.

Larry's address is:

Curran Castings
214 Curran Lane
Knox, PA 16232-9202

Hope this helps.

Grant G. Geist
Ohio Central Steam Dept.



beam@tusco.net

Kurt,

I have used these folks. A trip to this facility is worth it just to see how it is done. Figure on about $150 give or take.

Tom Gears

Atlas Bronze Corp
2409 Cedar St
Philadelphia, PA 19125-3099
Phone: (215)427-0444



Steam Railroading Message Board
tgears1@home.com

Thanks everyone for the information. As far as the security of original builder's and number plates are concerned, my institution (RR Museum of PA) in 1991 removed most of the original number and builder's plates from the PRR locomotives and had reproductions cast, since numerous attempts had been made in the past to steal these items (in 1969, an A5s builder's plate was actually lifted by an unknown thief off the locomotive while stored at Strasburg). The replicas now adorn the locomotives. The originals were then secured in a safe location elsewhere in the Museum. I would urge railway museums to store their originals and only use reproduction plates wherever possible, since they present too declicious a temptation for collectors to "acquire."

> Kurt,

> I have used these folks. A trip to this
> facility is worth it just to see how it is
> done. Figure on about $150 give or take.

> Tom Gears

> Atlas Bronze Corp
> 2409 Cedar St
> Philadelphia, PA 19125-3099
> Phone: (215)427-0444

since these are reproductions I kind of like the idea of stamping on the back of them "Stolen from (insert name here)" on the back of them, I saw that suggestion here once before and kind of liked it, that way you could easily track even the stolen reproductions, an added advantage would be the fact there there would be no chance in ever mixing the 2 sets of plates up.

just a thought

Ben

btrue@vt.edu

> Actually, I kinda like the idea of those
> resin "fakes". IMHO it is MUCH
> better to supply the market demand that way
> than have some rail"fan" liberate
> the plates from an engine in preservation.
> (I hear in some Moslem countries they still
> chop off a thief's hands, that might slow
> them down a bit)

Sounds good to me, Hope I find the guy who stripped my '79 Camaro. I think the replica plates are a great idea. If they had been on the equipment at IRM that was vandalized a while back, the loss may not have been that bad. Have any of the stolen builder's plates or air horns ever been recovered? I still have my trucker friends checking for stolen air horns.

Just train crazy,

-Angie

Ladypardus@cs.com

> since these are reproductions I kind of like
> the idea of stamping on the back of them
> "Stolen from (insert name here)"
> on the back of them, I saw that suggestion
> here once before and kind of liked it, that
> way you could easily track even the stolen
> reproductions, an added advantage would be
> the fact there there would be no chance in
> ever mixing the 2 sets of plates up.

> just a thought

> Ben
Has anyone ever looked into cast resin or polymer for replicating plates for use on outdoor display locos (non-operational,of course!) Some of the older ALCO and EMC diesel plates could be done this way at a lesser cost if the proper resin was available. Any thoughts?


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gferguson@aebc.com