"Flanders Flap"

[henry r]

it wouldn't take too much tweaking to get that repro close. it might take a bit of talent to shrink the spring end of the channel back flat with out making a mess of it.

i wish i could find something that simple which used such little material, i could sell for the equivalent of 49 pounds.

what is a real one worth?

edit: after looking at the completed auctions on that site. if the buyers read this thread, i think there will are going to be a few ****ed off people.

[Peter Laidler]

Ah, Henry...... Such a small piece of tin, recently produced it might be but as one who knows about these things, it is the initial putting your hands DEEP into yopur pocket to fund the project PLUS the additional odds and sods afterwards that would make your eyes water, believe me. You ought to ask me about having telescope lenses remanufactured and the thousand ££ outlay for a sufficient quantity and...... and........ I say we ought to give a big hand to the people who make these things to fill your collection (not mine I hasten to add as I don't collect such stuff). If the buyer wants a real McCoy then pay real McCoy prices I say........... Or get a repro at a reduced price.

It's strange that nobody so far has quibbled about having their dire, scratched ocular and/or OG lenses replaced with modern glass. In fact, just had to do just such a thing this very morning!

[henry r]

the thing is peter, i'm in a poorly paid job so making and selling two of those a day would beat what i get now...

i know that i would never sell two a day plus the real world has things like insurance and tax etc, that would turn 98 pounds into virtually nothing.

they are not like lenses, as far as tooling, to make my "two a day" figure i'd only need a set of letter punches and to spend a day or two sourcing the right springs, everything else i have or could modify/make something that would work. the reality is, i just had a very dis-heartening week at work so am indulging in a little pipe dreaming.

[Buccaneer]

Anyway, at £49, they are very clearly not the real deal, price alone confirms this, but that said, not a bad reproduction of the original at all and a very good talking point on the range!

I have just checked and they are still available, marked up at £47 + £3 postage...... the one on ebay is now up to £68 with a day and a bit to go!!

[Flying10uk]

When enquiring with a dealer as to whether an item is genuine or repro I find it best to e-mail rather than phone which, normally, results in an e-mail response to an e-mail. If you phone, a larger dealer, it is often the sales staff who will pick up the phone and can result in a load of waffle. Keep the e-mail questions as simple and unambiguous as possible. If the description of an item includes the word "Pattern" it often but not always indicates that the item is repro. No reputable dealer will risk stating in an e-mail that an item is genuine if it is or maybe a repro.