Where can I get a bronze A frame fabricated

[alan006]

I was unlucky enough to have thieves steal some parts from my Osbourne that I'm restoring. They took the starboard prop, shaft and bronze A frame that were under the boat whilst I was working on them.
Luckily I have the port fittings so I can take all the measurements from them to get replacements made up.
Does anyone know where I could get a bronze A frame made?
Its a little bit annoying as my guess is they will sell them as scrap for about £100 or so and it will cost me about £3000 to replace them.
If any of you are doing work on your classics may I suggest you store all these sort of bits very safely, the price of scrap is so high these days it is too tempting for these scallywags.

 

[Tranona]

Try Teignbridge Propellers www.teignbridge.co.uk They may well have made the originals, although they also may have come from Hamble Foundry, who I think are no longer in business.

 

[Lakesailor]

I think scallywags is a bit of a deodorised terms for the shitbags.

 

[alan006]

Thank you for your suggestion Tranona, I will give them a try.
I take your point Lakesailer, it is an unexpected extra expense on the ongoing project. Still, these things happen and I am refusing to let it discourage me.

 

[Double arvor]

alan i would go round the local scrap yards as possible thats where they went

 

[Niander]

Man i feel for you....but i would never have left them lying around

How can you be so .... about a 3 grand bill?....

 

[Litotes]

I think Colin Frake may do bronze fabrication

http://www.oldgaffersassociation.org/_sgg/m9m2_1.htm

 

[Tranona]

Clements Marine www.clementsmarine.co.uk is another possibility

 

[alan006]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions, I will try them.
Niander you are of course right to say they should have been more securely stored,however the thieves did cut through a chain fence to remove the bits.
I don't see the point in getting too despondant about it. It won't change the outcome. Perhaps I'm mellowing as I get older. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Niander]

Tis gud not to gt stressed
good luck on getting it sorted...

 

[lenseman]

Please make sure these scumbags don't return in the future for the port fitting! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Peterduck]

I would make sure that every scrap metal dealer within a large radius from your yard knows that these items have been stolen. Our law requires that scrap metal or any secondhand dealer gets details of who they are buying from. They usually get this from a driver's licence, not just verbally. This makes it easier for the pollis to go and visit them.
Peter.

 

[lenseman]

[ QUOTE ]
. . . . it will cost me about £3000 to replace them.

[/ QUOTE ]
Have you considered fabricating the mould yourself based on the "Lost Wax Principle"?

At that sort of cost (£3,000), if you made the mound with guidance from a foundry, you could take it along to them once made and let them pour in the molten metal for you. All you would then need it to fettle the moulding. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Not really as difficult as it sounds. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Tranona]

Pretty sure that a trawl round the stern gear manufacturers will find an existing pattern that can be used. Alternatively for a one off a fabricated SS one might be more economic.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Sounds like b*stard pikeys ... the police will do nothing, like they did for me once ... they're afraid of them!

 

[Seanick]

I really sympathize with you having those bits stolen. A few months ago a freind had all his deck hardware stolen from under his Quay Punt he is rebuilding. All beautiful wrought iron fittings, hard to replace and accuratley reproduce. The arseholes probably got a tenner down the scrappy. You really can't leave any metal unattended these days.
Howarth Foundry are good at casting bronze from an existing piece or make a new pattern.

 

[rikgraham]

The cheapest option would be to make a pattern yourself and have one, cast this is almost certainly how the original was made. Check how much to allow for shrinkage and do not worry how much filler you use to get a good finish. The pattern itself has to be fairly robust but a reasonable joiner should have no major problems.

 

[alan006]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I think I'll have a go myself as people have suggested.

 

[meldrum]

I'd recommend 'classic marine'
lime Kiln Quay,Woodbridge,Suffolk,IP12 1BD.
They also have a web site I cant remember the address but google them and you should find it.
They made a mast tabernacle for me to my drawings about 5 years ago the galvanising still shows no sign of rust. their work was of a high quality, accurate and reasonably priced. £130+vat inc delivery if I remember. I also bought several bronze deck fittings from them of their own manufacture at the same time
again no problems just the usual patina build up.They also do custom bronze fabrication.
I have no tie to them am just very pleased with the quality and service

 

[TrueBlue]

After all the obviously sensible answers, I'm prompted to suggest the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, principally because -

They work in bronze (but probably not marine grade,
they are in London - and may be the nearest port of call for you??

Indeed it might not be such a daft suggestion as it first appears.