I have a preservationist that is in need of information about casting replica locomotive plates, possibly in some quantity. He has a number of things that he wishes to replicate both for his own pleasure and for safekeeping of originals--such things as cast builder's plates, cast name plates, number plates, etc. (such things as, say, the "PLYMOUTH" or "DAVENPORT" name plates on switchers, or B&O Capitol Dome emblems), and the like. He wants to assure that the replicas never get passed off as originals, and would be more than willing to invest in raising the quantity to cheaper "break points" to provide suitable material to fellow preservationists, or perhaps as fundraiser replicas for preservation groups. As far as I can tell, most of what he's interested in is cast aluminum or similar alloys, although he could be interested in replicating a brass plate or two.

Anyone have any recommendations above and beyond looking for foundries in the phone book and crossing the fingers? Any railfan-friendly shops out there?

Furthermore, if anyone has some particular needs in this department, do we want to start a shopping list? Right off the bat, a Davenport nameplate is desired, and he can probably justify six plates from the start.

LNER4472@bcpl.net

> I have a preservationist that is in need of
> information about casting replica locomotive
> plates, possibly in some quantity. He has a
> number of things that he wishes to replicate
> both for his own pleasure and for
> safekeeping of originals--such things as
> cast builder's plates, cast name plates,
> number plates, etc. (such things as, say,
> the "PLYMOUTH" or
> "DAVENPORT" name plates on
> switchers, or B&O Capitol Dome emblems),
> and the like. He wants to assure that the
> replicas never get passed off as originals,
> and would be more than willing to invest in
> raising the quantity to cheaper "break
> points" to provide suitable material to
> fellow preservationists, or perhaps as
> fundraiser replicas for preservation groups.
> As far as I can tell, most of what he's
> interested in is cast aluminum or similar
> alloys, although he could be interested in
> replicating a brass plate or two.

> Anyone have any recommendations above and
> beyond looking for foundries in the phone
> book and crossing the fingers? Any
> railfan-friendly shops out there?

> Furthermore, if anyone has some particular
> needs in this department, do we want to
> start a shopping list? Right off the bat, a
> Davenport nameplate is desired, and he can
> probably justify six plates from the start.

Whatever he does, ask him to please, Please, PLEASE mark them as replicas in such a manner that they can't be passed off as originals later. At a recent railroadiana show, my guess was that 20-30% of the plates were fakes (heavily worn faces with no wear at all on the bolt holes, etc., and one plate that I knew to be fake because I know the owner of the original). Best of all was the guy who swore to me that he took the plate off the locomotive in the scrapyard in the late 1950's, which sounded good until I turned it over and found the words "replica" and "1990" cast into the plate!


kevinmccabe@avenew.com

There's a fine aluminum foundry near Raleigh, NC, but what with the melting point so low you might as well build one and cast them yourself. Ken Riddle has a book or two which illustrate the art well. It takes a power of coke cans to make one replica plate however.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

> There's a fine aluminum foundry near
> Raleigh, NC, but what with the melting point
> so low you might as well build one and cast
> them yourself. Ken Riddle has a book or two
> which illustrate the art well. It takes a
> power of coke cans to make one replica plate
> however.

> Dave

Use old diesel pistons--you can often get them free off a local truck garage.

Any plates that are reproduced must have a raised pad on the back and have reproduction cast into that pad. It has to be done in a manner that is impossible or difficult to grind out. We are now dealing with reproductions that were made back in the 1960's. These projects always start out with the best of intentions, but the problems come home to roost years later. The reproduction N&W Roanoke Shop plates are a prime exampe. They were cast off the original patterns and can be difficult to spot. I have seen examples where people tried to make them look old.



steamfan@crusoe.net

This is the way to go! Don't make them out of metal at all; make them out of plastic. It will look right on the wall of the train room and all you have to do is lift it to know it is modern.

Ted Miles


ted_miles@nps.gov

Check out this site --- may help some.

http://realisticreplicas.8m.com/emblems.html

> Don't make them out
> of metal at all; make them out of plastic.
> It will look right on the wall of the train
> room and all you have to do is lift it to
> know it is modern.

If you want to sell these in a gift shop to help raise funds, plastic is a good choice, or some sort of a plaster-like substance. The lighter weight the material, the better. The buyers would surely want to hang them on a wall for display, so lighter is better. I would imagine that casting them in plastic is also much cheaper than casting in a metal, thus giving you a better profit margin, while keeping them in the realistic price range so that many can afford a copy. Non-metalic materials would also cut down on the authenticity issues. I have heard hanging a Roanoke plate (or trying to), is like putting a manhole lid on your wall, because of the weight.

NFDRwy@Cox.net

> Check out this site --- may help some.

> http://realisticreplicas.8m.com/emblems.html

Pretty slick and reasonably priced. I lost the link but there is someone out there making replica GE plates also.


lamontdc@adelphia.net

We have re-produced builders plates in resin (rubber mold) and the original is kept in a safe place. This is a fairly simple project that one can do at home or small shop.

We also have made duplicates of the St. Louis Car Co. plate for the interior of the PCC cars. The differance being the original was aluminum, and the reproduction being brass. This of course, was cast at a foundry.


karl_johnson@ci.sf.ca.us

Project 1225 has sold replica Lima builder's and National Bank of Detroit trust plates from Pere Marquette 1225. These were made of aluminum by a member with an aluminum foundry, although as his business grew to include more mass-production automotive parts he had less time to fiddle with these plates. The slight curve of the builder's plates was a problem, as it was easier to mount the original plate on a flat backing when using it for a pattern. The reproductions are flat on the back, and vary in thickness. They are also stamped with our name.

Finishing the casting, drilling the holes, and painting them to resemble bronze is laborious. Automotive paint worked best. These should be thought of as a service to members or a premium to donors or civic officials, not as a real money-maker. They also give us something to rivet on the engine in place of the archived originals.

Bronze replicas could be made, but it is harder to find bronze foundries these days than aluminum.

We'd be interested in a reproduction "Locomotive Superheater Company" plate if anyone makes one; it's the only plate we lack for this engine.

Aarne Frobom
The Steam Railroading Institute
P. O. Box 665
Owosso, MI 48867-0665

> I have a preservationist that is in need of
> information about casting replica locomotive
> plates, possibly in some quantity. He has a
> number of things that he wishes to replicate
> both for his own pleasure and for
> safekeeping of originals--such things as
> cast builder's plates, cast name plates,
> number plates, etc. (such things as, say,
> the "PLYMOUTH" or
> "DAVENPORT" name plates on
> switchers, or B&O Capitol Dome emblems),

I have a mold for producing the capital dome herald in urethane, and have produced two heralds from this mold already. They can be painted up to resemble brass or bronze and none would be the wiser, they are light and very durable. I would be willing to produce a few more heralds if there is a demand for them.

http://www.todengine.org
jrowlands@neo.rr.com

> I have a preservationist that is in need of
> information about casting replica locomotive
> plates, possibly in some quantity. He has a
> number of things that he wishes to replicate
> both for his own pleasure and for
> safekeeping of originals--such things as
> cast builder's plates, cast name plates,
> number plates, etc. (such things as, say,
> the "PLYMOUTH" or
> "DAVENPORT" name plates on
> switchers, or B&O Capitol Dome emblems),
> and the like. He wants to assure that the
> replicas never get passed off as originals,
> and would be more than willing to invest in
> raising the quantity to cheaper "break
> points" to provide suitable material to
> fellow preservationists, or perhaps as
> fundraiser replicas for preservation groups.
> As far as I can tell, most of what he's
> interested in is cast aluminum or similar
> alloys, although he could be interested in
> replicating a brass plate or two.

> Anyone have any recommendations above and
> beyond looking for foundries in the phone
> book and crossing the fingers? Any
> railfan-friendly shops out there?

> Furthermore, if anyone has some particular
> needs in this department, do we want to
> start a shopping list? Right off the bat, a
> Davenport nameplate is desired, and he can
> probably justify six plates from the start.
I work with a small foundry in Massachusetts that pours bronze and aluminum. They specialize in work of this nature. Short runs, loose patterns, hand molding. Work of this nature is expensive!!

http://www.themachineryworks.com
hgorin@ix.netcom.com