I am starting this thread to document this project and partly to gauge interest in them. Seems people mention having them re-produced but does not seem its actually been done....
My 1970
Boler did not come with the metal
BOLER emblems and I recently obtained a set. The original metal emblems are pot metal and were then chromed.
The set I have are badly pitted so I sought out to have them re-produced at an aluminum foundry. I wanted cast aluminum ones as they can be polished and will never rust or pit out.
I have been in touch with over a dozen foundries now and seems very few want to touch them. Everything from NO to quotes of over $200 per emblem. I found one company out of Ontario that is on board and am sending him my emblem this week in the hopes it may be used as a mold.
The only cost effective alloy is a ZA12 alloy which is a modern variation of pot metal with a small percentage (12%) of aluminum. It should polish up nicely but may tarnish fairly quickly, but clearcoating would solve this.
I am also considering the option of a high luster faux chrome powder coat or possibly even ceramachrome as a final finish....paint is of course the least expensive option....regular chroming is far too expensive.
I am paying for a run of 10 emblems and will see how they turn out before I offer any sort of official run of these. I figure I can always sell off the extras on Ebay or elsewhere to cover my cost. My main goal is to have a nice set for my own trailer with a back up set.
Photos below is the one I intend to use as a mold. Its rough but cleaned up what I could...