Fokker Data Plates Available

Brokenspar · 28 June 2008, 10:40 PM

I have finally completed a batch of WWI Fokker Aircraft Data Plates. I used the acid etch method and they did turn out pretty good. I can email a photo if needed. The plates are $23.00 for the first ( includes shipping within the USA ); Plates after the 1st are $20 when purchased together. I hope placing this here is alright and not against the sites bylaws. Please email if you have any questions. Thanks, Brokenspar (Ted)

Jim · 30 June 2008, 10:47 AM

If you have not already done so I would urge you to mark them as reproductions using something like a die stamp so the marking can not be easily removed.

Laserlloyd · 30 June 2008, 11:21 AM

Brokenspar:

Which style dataplate did you use. There are many different styles that Fokker used. Do you have a photo of yours? For some of the repo guy's want to used the one for there plane. All the ones I have seen for the DR.I's are incorrect and I haven't seen a repo D.VII dataplate yet.

Lloyd...

Brokenspar · 30 June 2008, 05:03 PM

Most of the data plates that I make are replicas. There are several that I do make exactly like the original plates because I am allowed to do so. The remaining I alter enough that only someone with a skilled eye would be able to tell but enough to keep me out the court room and slammer. This is why after over 15 years of manufacturing my data plate I have not been required to stamp or mark them as reproductions. And above all the plates look AWESOME!! Yea, Yea....I'm REALLY biased. Ted

Laserlloyd · 30 June 2008, 05:39 PM

Brokenspar:

All I was asking is which style did you make because the E series is different from the Dr.I's and the D.VII's are different yet again. I happen to know the DR.I dataplate Vary form my examination of the only known exiting dataplate there is. I was just hoping to see what style yours looked liked.

I don't know what your talking about in keeping you out the court room since there is no copy right on the original design. I also never said anything about putting your mark on it as I would like to see it as authentic as possible as doing so would only make it less authentic.

Later this year a new DR.I Windsock publication is coming out with the first ever photos of the DR.I plate. If you want too after the book comes out we can talk about the Dr.I design, I know I would like one and I know a couple of others that would like one too.

Lloyd...

Brokenspar · 30 June 2008, 05:56 PM

Hi Lloyd,

Sorry, I wasn't yet responding to your question as I am hoping I'll be able to figure out how to put up a photo....what I was talking about was to the fella teelling me to place a stamp on each place......the plates I have made are for the E model Fokker. Whether I'll do the plates for the others is dependent upon my orking on my E.III I only make the Van's RV plates on a regular basis and the rest I either lose money or barely break even. The Fokker plate I needed for me. Hope this answers what you needed. Take care, Ted

Laserlloyd · 30 June 2008, 06:18 PM

Ted:

There are a couple of ways you can post a photo. I like to you PhotoBucket.com. Just sign up for your free account, up load the photo there and you will find an IMG code that you can copy an just past it into your post, to view it once you have posted it just click the Preview Post button below. Hope this helps...

Did you have any interest in making a DR.I dataplate? If you do let me know and we can talk about it.

Lloyd...

Jim · 1 July 2008, 05:13 PM

I was the guy who urged that these be marked as reproductions.

The difference between making high quality reproductions and forgeries is largely in whether the reproductions are clearly marked as such. That is the ethical thing to do.

Twenty years from now when a good quality unmarked reproduction has been bought and sold several times it will create unnecessary confusion as to whether it is real or not, and that will hurt the hobby of people who are interested in learning about WW I aviation.

For example, all of the high quality unmarked reproductions of WW I pilot badges have created so much confusion that many people have given up trying to learn about them or collect them since one expects all of them to be fakes.

All museums, these days, who do restoration of antique aircraft not only keep records of what is real and what is reproduction but they also mark every reproduction part in an inconspicuous location but in a way that it will always be easy to find by someone who is looking closely that it is a reproduction part.

Laserlloyd · 1 July 2008, 07:53 PM

Jim:

I had forgot if you were a builder or not. I know If I was building a Dr.I like Achim is the last thing I would want on my plane was something the said that it was a repo. If I was lucky I would have a LeRhône type 9Ja or Oberursel UR II rebuilt by Fred Murin, a pair of Spandau LMG 08/15 from Dave Watts and some gauges that's all that would be original but everything else would be as close to the original as possible.

I really don't get your statement "The difference between making high quality reproductions and forgeries is largely in whether the reproductions are clearly marked as such. That is the ethical thing to do."

Forgery on what... because it doesn't say it's a repo doesn't make it original and something that you know is over 90 years old. I look at Fred's FI trip and how beautiful it is to me marked up with the words reproduction all over it.

When was the last time you saw a antique car and said that's really a nice car but some of the part on the car are reproduction and there not labeled.

I know that Fokker hasn't made these dataplates for over 90 years and there is no copyright on them. We are not talking about Fine art in which I would say yes that is a Forgery IF it was said to be the original.

I commend all builder's out there that try to make their plane as original and true to the original one was. Ted can sell them as reproductions but it doesn't have to say that on it. I don't know if you know who Rodney is and what he did to hurt WW1 aviation but if I sell something as original for $25.00 you must be really lucky and if you bought it for thousands of dollars then your the fool like every one on Ebay buying MVR's Fokker DR.I fabric.

Your mixing two things together reproductions and Fakes past off as original.

Jim, Please don't take this the wrong way I just disagree with your statement.

Lloyd...

Brokenspar · 2 July 2008, 02:45 AM

Hi Jim,
I totally agree with what you are saying.....but that why in this case and in a number of my project plates, I've altered them enough that someone, as yourself and probably most here on this site could tell....in this case just by the feel.....you'll understand if I ever take a few minutes and get a photo on here.....Lloyd has given me instructions but I just haven't taken the time to check that out. Oh yes, another thing I've changed is that this and literally all my plates but one are stainless steel. Only reason I've chosen this is for the less likely for corrosion and because I am self taught on this hobby I've really gotten pretty good at stainless and the final look because of the grain.
Anyway, thanks for your input.
Ted