Cast Iron Fence: We Can Rebuild It
Here’s a fun guest post from a Clinton Hill brownstone owner… The story: Our 130-year old iron fence was in terrible shape, barely standing at all—the last of the five identical houses in our row to have even pieces of the original. I had Vinnie from Italian Art Iron Works on Bergen Street out to…
Here’s a fun guest post from a Clinton Hill brownstone owner…
The story: Our 130-year old iron fence was in terrible shape, barely standing at all—the last of the five identical houses in our row to have even pieces of the original. I had Vinnie from Italian Art Iron Works on Bergen Street out to look at it, and was still skeptical that it could be saved. It was missing 17 arrows and five of the seven post-end caps. Fortunately, previous owners saved 16 arrows, so at least we had those. Vinnie says to me, “You gotta spend-a the money.” So I did. Here’s a photo of Vinnie’s guy putting the pieces together along with one of what it looks like now. But that spikey finial you see below was one of only two that we had. I scoured the salvage places, emailed photos to Olde Good Things and all the rest—nada. Vinnie ballparked that it could cost us $4,000 to have new ones cast—yikes!
And then…
…my architect found these guys: Tomahawk Foundry in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, of all places. I sent them a picture and described what I needed. They said they’d do it for $150 apiece. I sent them one of the remaining finials. Three weeks later, they sent me the parts—gray iron, cast in sand. Original on the left, replica on the right. Perfect.
So if you’re looking to bring your iron fence back to life and can’t find all the pieces, there ya go. Fence should be complete again within a couple of weeks. And Bob’s yer uncle.
Folks;
Eccomiqua, scrivando a Milano, Italia! (Here I am, writing from Milan, Italy, of all places).
Here’s my two cents on the matter.
I’ve mixed it up with this poster (Rehab) before, and he is, quite frankly, full of sh6t, when he pretends that he is celebrating the character and diversity of this city.
Here’s my challenge regarding Rehab: show all his posts from about 1 to 2 years ago (he’s been on hiatus the past year). Here’s a guy who used to deride all religious people in the most vile manner possible. Search for his remarks when Mr. B was having that controversy with the cheuch in Clinton Hill (regarding the flea market) He’s a guy who likes to deride Fedder homes as “Bensonhursty”.
Yeah, he celebrates diversity, yeah right.
“There is nothing sexier than an Asian with a Brooklyn accent, except one with an Aussie accent.”
I think there’s nothing sexier than a woman with a French accent…
“…but I am still waiting to hear some other accents portrayed/mocked here.”
Wrong again! Fuhgeddabatit is a dialect – self-reflexive mocking.
dave- please, no. rescind crescent’s invite. I don’t mind a good argument but then again, crescent made no good argument. He simply insulted. He would be too much of a boor and a bore.
“Vinnie seemed to be an easy target, but then again, he is likely a “character” who is “old world” and “old fashioned”, right?”
Again- how is this an insult? People with character and who are old world or old fashioned happen to be great in my book. Have you ANY education? Do you even know what these terms mean? Ignorant, you are. And ignorant is NOT good in my book.
Crescent…after all of this, I extend to you the warmest welcome to join us over in the Open Thread. You have battled long and hard, probably lost but battled nonetheless and that is something that we need more of around here no matter how absurd one’s position is. Also, please join us for drinks at pacifico tomorrow. You too Rehab.
PS…..Vinnie’s shop is down the street a few blocks west of there. We can all go and visit. I’m sure he’d love to share an Averna with me.
🙂
Rewrite: Crescent = excrescent
Oh, and this ironwork could be duplicated in China at 1/5th the cost. of course it would come back with the appropriate, historically correct lead paint. 🙂
Vinnie also did iron work for me (in my garden), and he would definitely take Rehab’s comment in the affectionate spirit in which it was intended. Lighten up, people. Life’s too short.