Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums Want to Buy Petroliana Hercules Punched Metal faces

OK here goes the hokey question. Does anybody out there have a hercules metal lense? I would like to pay for a stencil or exact pattern of it as I would like to make one for a visible in the backyard.

Theres one on Ebay.

Yeah I know thanks. Offered the guy money to make a template and his response was buy it and you can do what you want iwth it. Kind of made me laugh. Kind of:( Thanks for the help though

How will you be able to tell the difference between your homemade one and the real deal after it sits outside for a few years? Will it be marked as a reproduction?

Well for one this is for my visible not for real production. Have way too much going on to try to start making and selling signs. If someone was concerned I would stamp it reproduction but as I said it's for one of my visibles not for Ebay. Just can't afford to buy an original. Yes you are right that how many shady guys let something "age" in the backyard and then it's an authentic antique. I do hate that and that's why they sell their ***** on Ebay only so there is no real up close inspection and scrutiny.

Right now it is for your visible. But if something happened to you, would your family or whomever remember it was something you had made? Or would it be sold to some poor sucker as an original?

In past years we here have heard from some, saying they aren't going to mark an item they had made. Their reason; once they are gone they could care less if someone gets screwed over.

If it is a repop or a fantasy item and it isn't marked, how does anyone know that it isn't original? Just something to think about.

I actually don't really care what anybody thinks because if they knew me they would understand it is for ME period. My wife is under strict instructions to give all my stuff to my kids and just cash in on the insurance money. Hopefully I will live a lot longer and in 40 years someone can say "Hey I wonder if those hercules lenses for sale are the lenses that so and so made 40 years ago." Of course then they would just be antique repops.:)

Exactly why repops, remakes, anything not authentic, are a problem today

Hello Bob, The point you raise is interesting about the "what if" senario and family members dispersing a collection they may know little or nothing about.

This my friend is a double edge sword!

There is also the possibility that they (family members or whomever) will sell off the more valuable original items in a collection for far less than market value.
How many serious collectors can honestly say they haven't fantasized about that happening. (and it does happen)

As far a getting ripped off on a re-pop or doctored up sign, I think it is a "CHARACTER BUILDER" You know like "FOOL ME ONCE"
It taught me to ASK QUESTIONS to the sellers on ebay and if I don't get a good answer with a guaranty I don't bid....

I looked at the listing (320567813585) for the punch globe and would agree the guys response to SFG was kind of funny:} but then again so is SFG!! LOL!

Stamp the date (2010) on it somewhere and you'd be fine.

I do agree that unmarked reproduction pieces hurt the hobby, regardless of your intentions at the time of making it...

There was a bunch of stuff at Iowa that was no doubt repro, being sold as original. Kinda scary, going to be real bad in another 10-20 years.

I took a break from this post, because in the past I have been "chastised" for some of my comments and the way I expressed them.

I can not understand, those who are active members in this hobby who either make or give excuse to those who make unmarked repops/fantasy items. Our hobby is based on the originality of it's items.

If one is truly a collector, how can they give excuse to unmarked repops and fantasy items?

I have been a member here for over 5 years now, time really does fly. I started collecting gas and oil items over 45 years ago. (Still have that first can)

The membership at Oldgas, during that 5+ years I have been here, has had this conversation many, many times. And many more times before I joined. This topic doesn't seem to come up as often, as it seems it did a few years ago,thankfully. In that 5 years I have not heard 1 explanation that made any sense at all, as to why we as "Gas and Oil" Collectors should embrace unmarked repops and fantasy items?

We as a group should be doing everything we can to expose them, not make them ourselves. Or atleast that is my opinion.

If you go back in the archives, most collectors who have voice an opinion on this given subject have expressed similar opinions.

I couldnt agree more, items that are not dated, are done so to fool people in the future. What will it hurt to put a date somewhere on a reproduced item? Is it going to make the item worth a dollar less? Probably not.

If you make this, after you punch all the Holes to make the Logo. Stamp the Year "Repro 2010" at the Bottom of the tin lense. It would take you about 1 Minute to do and would prevent any problems years down the Road.

WELL SAID Bob, I will go a step further and say all that ***** belongs in Ocean State Job Lot, 5 & 10, Dollar Stores etc. It Should not even be given a second look from collectors of ORIGINAL Gas & Oil Collectibles, If you want those cheasy little repops, buy them and talk about them in those chat rooms. They really should be as far away from OLDGAS as possible.

I'm done, I'm going for a swim now.