Custom Fabrication

In addition to our hundreds of stock lighting and hardware items, we also offer the option to have your own hardware or lighting parts reproduced. Since we are a real foundry, and not just a reseller, we can make custom replacements of missing antique hardware for furniture and home. New construction and product lines are also possible for hardware and lighting. Ask about our Electronic CF conversions for your commercial or home lighting projects.

Furniture Hardware:
Knobs and handles can be fabricated from good original samples. Normally, when a handle or knob is missing and a good quality matching one is still available, we can make an exact copy in any quantity. The better the sample, the better the product. We do not repair hardware, as that is generally impractical or impossible. New castings start at $65 for one off. Each casting requires us to make a silicon-rubber mold from the original, hence the cost. A handle, consisting of a back plate and a bail, is really two castings, requiring two molds and two separate castings. For an accurate quote. it is best to send us the samples with a $5 return postage check.

Mechanical Hardware:
Mechanical hardware requires steel dies to create their working parts. Normally, this includes locks and passage devices utilizing springs. Other hardware requiring steel manufacturing dies are: window cranks, engaging latches, support devices, and even, sometimes, special hinges...to name a few. Mechanical devices are extremely complicated to reproduce and can involve thousands of dollars in die costs. Making "one" is not practical...but of course...we can quote 100's or 1,000's for OEM manufacturers who are willing to absorb the normal die costs. Antique mechanical devices like window latches, throw bolts etc, do not, normally, require steel dies and can be re-manufactured within most restoration budgets.

Lighting:
We have reproduced special antique lighting for several customers. Reproducing lighting is a mixed bag which can require massive die investment, or, very little, depending on the type of lighting involved. Good and plentiful digital pictures sent to us are usually sufficient for us to judge most of the die investment. If a customer can accept a part made slightly differently from the original, costs can be saved. And then, modifying the lighting that we already produce, is also an option. If we can use the parts that we already have dies for, then significant savings will result. We will be happy to discuss your ideas when being creative with our existing lighting. The most expensive element to reproduce is usually the glassware used with the lighting. It is always much cheaper to use existing available glassware from us or others. Glassware die costs are expensive since the dies required must be made from cast iron and then machined. In the case of blown shades, this is usually only one die, but in the case of pressed shades....a minimum of 3 dies must be made, for the turret machine. A glassmaker normally does not accept an order for under 200 blown shades or under 1,000 pieces of pressed shades. Glassmaking is a serious undertaking, normally only used by manufacturers.

Architectural:
We have cast many architectural pieces for the outside of buildings and gardens. We have worked from drawings, but the most economic costing of an architectural elements is when a "same size" sample is supplied. We have made zinc and brass castings from plaster originals...and we can even work from a clay mock-up. When we are only provided with drawings, an original sample must be created, adding significantly to prep charges, but it can be done.

Metals and Finishes:
We work in mostly yellow-brass. Yellow brass can be antiqued, and antiqued with a high/lo finish for a beautiful rustic appearance. Other finishes available are: satin brass, nickel-plated brass, and yellow-brass lacquered. All special order finishes are lacquer sealed. We also can work in silicon bronze and zinc if needed.