But how can anyone be really sure? These were cast in the first place which is the exact same technique a faker will use. I could never be confident to shell out the $1800 or so these seem to go for to take the risk personally.
But how can anyone be really sure? These were cast in the first place which is the exact same technique a faker will use. I could never be confident to shell out the $1800 or so these seem to go for to take the risk personally.
Glenn: There really isn't a whole lot of info on these out there but I've studied up as much as I can and just like anything else you have to know what to look for. The fake ones always show a tell tale sign and most of them are easy to spot if you know what to look for. I'm really looking forward to the reference book on these that is coming out soon!
Luke
I wonder if I might add a comment for discussion concerning the dimensions of originals versus replicas? My understanding is that replicas of these eagles or any other similar items would normally be made from a sand casting in a mould created from an original. If this is done, I believe that the replica would inevitably be smaller, due to shrinkage when the metal cools. This could only be avoided by producing a wooden pattern based on the original but this is very difficult to do and therefore very expensive and probably outside of the scope of makers of such replicas. Ordinarily a pattern maker increases the dimensions of a blue print to take account of shrinkage. It seems to me that the exact comparison of dimensions of pieces under consideration with warranted originals may be a reliable way of sorting the sheep from the goats.
My comments are based on just odd information that I’ve picked up in connection with another hobby – old motorbikes – if there are experts out there to add or correct my amateur grasp I would be please to hear.
I believe a decent engineering workshop with a quality CAD machine could whiz up a perfect replica casting mould in no time and a % size increase to account for shrinkage would be a no brainer.
Interesting bird
I want one of these LOK eagles in my humble collection as well.
I'm sure they would, but at a cost. I don't think they would just make one or two but insist on a large batch being produced which would be way above what a forger could afford with no assurance of a quick turn over. I'm also into old motorcycles and this is why some small obsolete pieces are just to expensive to have re-produced. Also the purchaser does not only pay for the items but also has to buy the mould. Ten years ago a motorcycle cylinder barrel cast in the rough was quoted at £1000 for the mould before anything was made.
Mark.
Regards,
John
My brother has an engineering business & casting foundry. Should I be able to convince him to make the effort and get an original (or considered original example) I bet we could knock out a batch of copies no problem then drip-feed them to the market @ $1800 a piece and make a tidy sum. Honestly, this scares me how easy it is to do with the right equipment and an evil heart.
I can only hope that microscopic study of the surface will reveal where plasma or water-abrasive cutters have been used by the automated equipment in order to weed out the fakes. But I bet the clever fakers will take the modern-technology made casts and use old school techniques to make the actual pieces and thereby still fool the poor collector.
I think you're being a bit too paranoid here (no offence). You're detailing the process of manufacturing perfect forgeries using both old and new techniques requiring both great skill and obviously access to expensive equipment --- it's not that I doubt this to be possible in theory, it's just that I really do think forgerers have other possibly smaller items they can pump out in larger quantities and with greater ease than these relatively sizable aluminum eagles. I bet suspicions would be going through the rough if minty examples started flooding the market.
Besides, imo, going around with this sort of thing as a plausible scenario in the back of your mind would make it difficult to collect anything at all in good faith that it's original going by proven examples... I mean ANYTHING can be more or less perfectly forged if one has a limitless supply of funds, equipment, expertise and time--- I've consulted the most knowledgable collectors of these out there on both of my purchases. That combined with confidence in my own critical sense/eye and consideration as to who the source is has given me plenty enough to feel confident that they are indeed good/authentic pieces.
My 2 cents, as they say... you're of course entitled to your own fears regarding forgeries but I must admit I was getting mental images of some kind of Dr. Evil masterminding these seemingly perfect copies that you just detailed.
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