In MMD 970903, D. L. Bullock asked about replicating keyslip escutcheons.

The cast variety, as in Ampico for example, can easily be made by any
jeweler who actually _makes_ jewelry.  Hint:  Often such people are
employed by pawnshops.  I've had Ampico A drawer knobs made occasionally
through the years this way, at very reasonable cost.

There seem to be two different methods used for the "flat" black and
brass varieties.

In the first, it seems that the escutcheon was "reverse stamped", then
coated with black shellac and the high spots (the lettering) burnished
off, probably by machine since we're only talking about a few thousandths
of an inch difference between the high and low spots.  After this the
escutcheon was, of course, lacquered.

In the second, often found on the "tab-flappers", patent plates and such,
the lettering was simply lithographed onto the brass sheet -- the same
way that printing is done today on metal boxes, toys, whatever.

I would think that any company which makes metal signs ought to be able
to replicate either of these.  The trouble is that since you probably
don't want 10,000 of them, the cost per unit would likely be excessive
if they are to duplicate the original lettering.

You might want to talk to a firm which does metal stamping and/or one
which lithographs metal boxes in which hard candy and such things are
sold, but they may not want to do only a hundred or so.

Dean Randall
mailto:pianolst@nwlink.com

 [ Try a silk-screen shop.  They often make lots of things besides
 [ colorful Tee-shirts !  -- robbie