T-Reproductions

Sunday, March 3, 2013

T-Reproductions

(Modern Reproductions of Pressed Steel Originals)

http://www.lloydralstontoys.com

(Please press on the above address to be redirected to the fine site of Lloyd Ralston Gallery)

     I've been  sending e-mails and finally phoned the owner of T-reproductions. We spent a but of time talking, and I then gave him my website address and asked him to look at it, and to please give me written permission to write about his excellent reproductions. However, businessmen are quite busy, so I didn't hear from him yet.  I will eventually, but I decided to fine other sources of his items and to write about them. Thankfully, the Lloyd Ralston Gallery had some that went to auction, and I was able to use the Gallery's.

     As I mentioned, I had spoken on the phone with Mr. Norman Thomas, the owner of T-Reproductions. We poke brief;y, but the conversation was interesting nevertheless. His toy reproductions are made from pressed steel, then  spray-painted with electrically-charge paint particles.  The metal is charged with 1 polarity (+ or -) and the paint is opposite. So when the micro-particles are sprayed out, then migrate to the metal. What was interesting is the explanation of how Mr. Thomas can reproduce the toys. If someone still owns the copyright (the name, logo, or other intellectual property), then he has to arrange for a license to be able to use the name.In this case he's produced both Buddy "L" and Lionel Items.  However, products are patented, and as Mr. Thomas explained with an analogy to the drug industry, patents run out in time. 

    The interesting thing here is that the reproductions are now making their way into the auction market. The company has been around for a while ( I don't know the date when they started up), so there are already a number of the older models around. The company produce limited numbers in a production. Also, these items are well-made.

     I didn't want to "compare" these fine models to the original from 80 year ago. However, if you were to find some in either excellent condition or repainted, you'd have trouble telling the old from the new.

 Thanks for dropping by, 

and have a great part of the day, 

wherever you may be.

Stacey