Gauging interest for stocking armour hinges

[WinterTreeCrafts]

I am interested in stocking a variety of hand-made hinges specifically for armour such as those used externally on vanbraces, greaves and the like. These would be of the simple folded sheet steel filed to shape and polished variety. Visor hardware is also on the table.

While I anticipate there would be less demand as commercial hinges do a decent job for 1/4 the price, I could also easily stock simple rectangular internal hinges.

I have come across a few folks selling these over the years but most of the businesses that I know of that sold these either closed down or no longer stock them. While they aren't particularly difficult to make, they are time consuming and thus batch-style dedicated production should be able to save some time and thus $$$.

I intend to task a shop-helper with making these if there is a market and I'd like to pay her $10-$15 an hour depending on productivity and demand.

Specific pricing will have to wait until after the helper is trained and I get an idea of the labor cost.

So, I pose to you, the greater AA community: Would you buy such an item? Would any other armouries be interested in establishing a supply arrangement?

[Ebonbane]

Sounds like a good idea, count me in for a couple....


Sean

[Lord O'Quinn]

I personally would like the option to buy hand made hinges.

I had an inquiry for a bacinet, but was concerned about doing the hinge myself, and the customer was not interested in anything modern looking, so I passed.

If there was an off the shelf (so to speak) supply for these that would help situations like that, until I figure out the more advanced hinges

O'Quinn

[Wilhelm zu Eltz-Kempenich]

Interested.

[James Arlen Gillaspie]

Yes, yes indeed.

[es02]

Quite possibly.