Handbag Hardware supplier needed.

[Klara]

Maybe a crazy idea - but if you used to buy from the manufacturer, who stopped making them - what has he done with the molds? Could you possibly get hold of them?

[RockyAussie]

14 hours ago, Klara said:

Maybe a crazy idea - but if you used to buy from the manufacturer, who stopped making them - what has he done with the molds? Could you possibly get hold of them?

No harm asking I guess. I am tempted to just make them up from some of their hardware I still have seeing as how they claim that they don't make them anymore. Unfortunately I think the older seniors of the place may have got to retirement age and I have a deep respect for their past work and abilities. Communication with them has been very difficult and their web page is incredibly not English friendly nor up to date in any good way. They advertise mostly to make your designs but cant come to making their old ones due to them being too difficult to make now. When it comes to them making something from your design the cost gets way high. They use a badge I designed for a customer on their blog page showing the steps involved in the making of it. We had to get a lot in one order and they cost about $30.00 each. Neither the customer or myself were asked about them showcasing it that way. I did not mind so never brought it up with them but...  This is the badge on the handbag I produced for my customer -    

[YinTx]

On 10/16/2022 at 8:00 PM, RockyAussie said:

Every thing seems to be disappearing

It is.  All the quality mfr's have been priced out by low priced import junk or regulated into oblivion.  There are those that will do special order, but as you mention, small quantities may not warrant it.  Abbey England had a foundry at one point, not sure if they still do.

[sbrownn]

9 hours ago, YinTx said:

It is.  All the quality mfr's have been priced out by low priced import junk or regulated into oblivion.  There are those that will do special order, but as you mention, small quantities may not warrant it.  Abbey England had a foundry at one point, not sure if they still do.

Yeah, it's a shame they can't still dump their chrome plating waste into the city sewers. 

Sensible environmental regulation/protection coupled with the labor cost for the buffing necessary for high quality plating probably did drive the process to China, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia or any of the rest of the countries with low labor costs and non existent environmental protection.

[jcuk]

10 hours ago, YinTx said:

It is.  All the quality mfr's have been priced out by low priced import junk or regulated into oblivion.  There are those that will do special order, but as you mention, small quantities may not warrant it.  Abbey England had a foundry at one point, not sure if they still do.

I think they are but have just messaged them to see, i have used them for certain things and was happy with the quality of the products but not cheap though. But as the saying goes you get what you pay for, i use their standard Head Collar fitting and their Foundry made ones the quality is like night and day sadly though most customers cant tell the difference all they see is the cheaper option.

Hope this helps

JCUK

 

[YinTx]

57 minutes ago, sbrownn said:

Yeah, it's a shame they can't still dump their chrome plating waste into the city sewers. 

Sensible environmental regulation/protection coupled with the labor cost for the buffing necessary for high quality plating probably did drive the process to China, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia or any of the rest of the countries with low labor costs and non existent environmental protection.

I have worked in industry long enough to understand what is sensible and what is not.  Sensible regulations allow industry to function while protecting the environment, workers and consumers.  What we have leads to tragedy of the commons.   The environment, workers and consumers are suffering the consequences.

[jcuk]

Abbey England have just got back and said yes their Foundry is still up and running.