In reading a recent MMD installment, I noticed a listing for a
information on a "Musical Christmas Tree Stand" and problems of it
not having both a cover and the cast tree cup.  Many of these stands
turn up but, like the stand described, many don't have the cast iron
tree cup and winding key.  I was more surprised to hear the cover was
missing from the unit described.

I, too (like many others), was missing the cast iron tree cup on my
stand, but in all other ways mine was complete.  Further, I could not
find a vintage cup to complete my stand.

In order to get what I needed, I had to have a pattern turned and
decorated with the proper design to fit the period when the stands
were made.  Then I sent the pattern off to a foundry to have it cast.

I think they turned out very well but it was a bit costly.  I still
have three others that were cast then.  I also still have the pattern
that the parts were cast from for any others who might want to purchase
one.

If anyone is looking to purchase a tree cup, I have them two ways.
One is directly from the foundry the way I got them, with only the hole
where the trunk of the tree fits, for $75.00.

The other way is drilled and tapped with three (T-type) tree securing
screws, as originally made (see photo), and drilled to fit the stand.
In this case stand must be sent.  The final step in the machining
process is to grind off casting slag and sandblast the part to even
the look of the parts surface.  The price is $100.00.

The biggest difference between the vintage cups and the cups I had cast
was that my cups are flat in the inside bottom, where the tree fits.
I wanted a way to tell my cups from vintage cups.  (I am not trying
to cheat other collectors, now or in the future, in making these
replacement cups.)

Gary G. Stevenson - "Studio801"
South St. Louis, Mo.

 [ See Gary's photo at http://mmd.foxtail.com/Pictures  -- Robbie