Alan Fox asked about replacing metal parts for the case of a musical
clock.  The best way to do this (as I mentioned to Lelland Fletcher) is
to make a mold, then a wax duplicate of the part and finally a metal
part, using the lost wax casting method.  I have had to do this several
times to replace parts on a barrel organ, a piano, a barrel piano,
etc..  It can be done with special RTV molding material or more quickly
with dental casting material.

The biggest problem is getting the actual metal part cast.  If you
can't do it yourself, most casting plants want a lot of set-up money.
The first piece costs a bundle and the rest are very reasonable.

I have a friend who does only small jobs.  Although he has a $30
minimum, I can usually get several small parts for less than that if
I make the molds myself.  Or I can send the original part to him and
he will do the whole job for $30 to $50.

One time, I filled out the minimum by sending him a couple wax castings
of an earring that my wife had lost.  That brought an otherwise sub
minimum job up to $30 and we got 3 silver earrings for a couple dollars
each, in case she looses the other one.

At the moment, with the help of a very gracious mechanical music
collector, I hope to make copies of the medallions from the front
of those Levien Mexican barrel organs, for myself and another friend,
since our organs have lost theirs.  I bought a fresh supply of the
molding material ($50 for two small tubes) and sent it to him.

We are planning to meet on the phone soon so I can describe to him the
process to mix and apply the material to the parts on his organ to make
the molds.  After he sends the molds to me, I'll make the wax castings
and send them to my friend who will cast the medallions.

If anyone needs more details, I'd be glad to discuss this further.
I'm in the MBSI directory.

Regards,
Craig Smith