UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum - View Single Post

David G4EBT · 11th Jul 2019, 5:48 pm

The problem with this is that the setup costs and tiny volume that would be sold would make the price prohibitive, especially considering that the radio or other HMV equipment to which the decal will be attached will not be sufficiently rare or valuable to warrant the cost. Setting aside whether or not the ones from Peru are sufficiently authentic looking replicas, for the work that's gone into producing them and the printing method and equipment used, the price of c £16.91 + £4.40 post isn't unreasonable. (Post free if three or more are ordered).

That said, the decal costs probably half as much, if not more, then the value of the set to which it will be applied. I can't imagine many impecunious UK restorers being prepared to pay even the Peru prices - let alone more. The Peru company have 100% satisfactory feedback on 102 sales, but that doesn't tell the whole story. That's across the whole range of decals they produce, very few of which are HMVs.

There are companies in the UK who make waterslide decals for such things as classic motorbike restorations. It's one thing making a set of decals costing maybe £100 for the restoration of a BSA Gold Flash or Triumph Bonneville worth £,0000s, where the costs of the decals would be incidental. It's quite another thing to create, manufacture and market decals for low value radios.

There's a reason why - so it seems - only one firm in the world seems to be selling these.

Interesting to read their comments about the setup and production techniques:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HMV-102-P...w5e5ca1ob#rwid

There are plenty of UK firms who will make bespoke water-slide decals, but as might be imagined, printing a simple decal with say black lettering on a white background (which could be done at home on an ink jet printer), may not be too costly, but with multicoloured decals with gold lettering, and where there are set-up costs, the price quickly escalates. Probably nine HMV decals would fit on an A4 sheet, and at best, I can't imagine a bulk order consisting on ten sheets or more, which is nothing for a print run.

If anyone wants to start the ball rolling, here are a few leads to follow up for anyone so inclined:

http://www.cbtransfers.co.uk/

http://www.precisionlabels.com/colours.html

https://www.slik-screeners.co.uk/pro...-and-labels-1/

I'll watch developments with interest!

11th Jul 2019, 5:48 pm	#16
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,761	Re: Source for HMV decals The problem with this is that the setup costs and tiny volume that would be sold would make the price prohibitive, especially considering that the radio or other HMV equipment to which the decal will be attached will not be sufficiently rare or valuable to warrant the cost. Setting aside whether or not the ones from Peru are sufficiently authentic looking replicas, for the work that's gone into producing them and the printing method and equipment used, the price of c £16.91 + £4.40 post isn't unreasonable. (Post free if three or more are ordered). That said, the decal costs probably half as much, if not more, then the value of the set to which it will be applied. I can't imagine many impecunious UK restorers being prepared to pay even the Peru prices - let alone more. The Peru company have 100% satisfactory feedback on 102 sales, but that doesn't tell the whole story. That's across the whole range of decals they produce, very few of which are HMVs. There are companies in the UK who make waterslide decals for such things as classic motorbike restorations. It's one thing making a set of decals costing maybe £100 for the restoration of a BSA Gold Flash or Triumph Bonneville worth £,0000s, where the costs of the decals would be incidental. It's quite another thing to create, manufacture and market decals for low value radios. There's a reason why - so it seems - only one firm in the world seems to be selling these. Interesting to read their comments about the setup and production techniques: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HMV-102-P...w5e5ca1ob#rwid There are plenty of UK firms who will make bespoke water-slide decals, but as might be imagined, printing a simple decal with say black lettering on a white background (which could be done at home on an ink jet printer), may not be too costly, but with multicoloured decals with gold lettering, and where there are set-up costs, the price quickly escalates. Probably nine HMV decals would fit on an A4 sheet, and at best, I can't imagine a bulk order consisting on ten sheets or more, which is nothing for a print run. If anyone wants to start the ball rolling, here are a few leads to follow up for anyone so inclined: http://www.cbtransfers.co.uk/ http://www.precisionlabels.com/colours.html https://www.slik-screeners.co.uk/pro...-and-labels-1/ I'll watch developments with interest! __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.