Hi Harvey,
As well as taking notes from the excellent post by Norris you might like to find out more about 'model metal'. This used to be available to Fantasy Ro le Play Gamers who made their own miniature models, taking a cast from a mould. The metal is an alloy and has the advantages of being reasonably har d wearing (although would scratch quite easily with a sharp object) and hav ing a very low melting point (I remember literally melting it on a stove in an old pan), ideal for the home hobbyist.
Joel Uden
London
UK
> Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 20:32:55 -0500
> From: hmsachs@verizon.net
> Subject: re: [CR]Reproducing a head badge
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
>
> My first note (below) seems to have been ambiguous, so let me try to
> explain what I'm trying to do:
>
> I bought an Andy Hamel (Long Island, late 40s-50s) from Eddie Albert. I
t
> has no head badge. the bike is repainted now, pretty much as we think i
t
> might have been when new. This is good, but it lacks a head badge. Eddi
e
> has offered to loan me one to make a replica. Once before, I got as far
> as pulling a silicon replica (of a Davis Sewing Machines of Dayton), an
d
> making a cast of that in plaster of paris. But I didn't finish the projec
t.
>
> So, the goal is to get a proper Andy Hamel head badge, or a proper
> replica made. Let's assume I can pull a mold and even make a cast.
> surely there is some hobby that relates to this, and would provide
> guidance on how to procure the materials, beat out the badge, etc. A
ny
> one have hints? Sounds like sort of a fun winter project.
>
> thanks
> harvey sachs
> mcLean va 22101
> (This is not the last Hamel in captivity or the wild, but there can't b
e
> very many. It's not like finding any-old Paramount badge, or even the
> proper Hetchins head badge, unfortunately. Heck, maybe I'll just go
> wise-guy and install my favorite "Real Bicycles/Philadelphia" head
> badge. :-(
>
> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> I did a quick peek at the archives, but didn't get where I wanted to.
> Anyone have experience with reproducing a head badge, and a recipe for
> success? The bike is question is my Andy Hamel, and Eddie Albert has
> offered to loan a badge to make one or more repros. Or, anyone have a
> spare Andy Hamel headbadge? :-)
>
> thanks
> harvey sachs
> mcLean va usa