Full Version: Sales of Bronze Plaques and Statuary are up!
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1]
21 Sep 2006
To: ALL
Well...illegal sales, that is.
Yesterday, I read of a 2 x 10 inch bronze plaque, stolen from a memorial bench, located on the Ventura pier.
At first glance, it seemed like a garden variety act of vandalism.
Today, I read, due to the escalating cost of metals, world-wide, thefts of bronze plaques and bronze statues are on the rise, including a 106 year-old Revolutionary war memorial and a 500 lb. statue of a child reading a book, which stood outside a public library.
Because local recyclers could easily blow the whistle on the thieves, many of the items are being sold to overseas buyers.
How will this affect the bronze casting manufacturers?
Will they see an increase in sales, due to memorials being replaced, or will we see the introduction of new materials, which will cut the foundries out of the will?
EDITED: 21 Sep 2006 by DGL
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#2]
21 Sep 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 21 Sep 2006
I remember a news story, maybe last year or the year before, in some former east block country where thieves had stolen a metal bridge over a small river. They dismantled it and took it to a scrap metal dealer.
They got caught.
From: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#3]
21 Sep 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 21 Sep 2006
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#4]
21 Sep 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#2] 21 Sep 2006
Things have gotten so out of hand that nothing I hear surprises me anymore.
I'm all for recycling, but c'mon!
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#5]
21 Sep 2006
To: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#3] 21 Sep 2006
Brian,
These low-lifes don't care that besides the theft of metal, they're stealing family memories and national memorials.
Last night, I saw a news item from England, where not only are cameras being installed, just about everywhere, but loudspeakers are also being used to let people know they're being watched and to curtail crime.
Is that our future?
EDITED: 21 Sep 2006 by DGL
From: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#6]
21 Sep 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#5] 21 Sep 2006
From: gt350ed [#7]
21 Sep 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#2] 21 Sep 2006
"A Bridge Too Far". B-)
From: UncleSteve [#8]
21 Sep 2006
To: gt350ed [#7] 21 Sep 2006
From: logojohn [#9]
21 Sep 2006
To: ALL
We had never had problems before when we just had trophies and awards. Withing a short time of adding racks with clothes(actually samples with company logos) a hugh bolder was thrown through the front glass door one night and a plate glass window shortly after. They didn't ransack for money, computers or equipment, just grabbed the clothes. The insurance company made us add burglar bars or they would cancel the policy. We even had to extend the burglar alarm to a small storage shed behind the building. People scaled the chain link locked fence and again after razor wire loops were added to the top. The auto store next to us has had several daytime holdups.
From: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#10]
21 Sep 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#2] 21 Sep 2006
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#11]
21 Sep 2006
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#10] 21 Sep 2006
The one I read about the bridge was gone. But police found it in pieces at a local metal dealer.
It's probably happened more than once.
I've also heard of empty buildings having all the wiring and pipes stolen.
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#12]
21 Sep 2006
To: PenTrophy (PENINSULATROPHY) [#6] 23 Sep 2006
Never did read the book, but the synopsis was bad enough. :S
Thankfully, Orwell's timeline was off, although, incrementally, we're heading that direction.
From: Paul (JACKPETTY) [#13]
21 Sep 2006
To: ALL
The scrap yards in the New Orleans area are not taking anything from a 'walk in' that looks like it was stolen such as, cast signs, interstate railings and air conditioning coils. There's enough scrap from the storm that they don't need anymore.
About 3 years ago we did a rather large cast sign for a local government and just when it was delivered, they realized they spelled someone's name wrong. I said to live with it but they wanted to pay to have another one done (don't tell me that twice ) so I took the piece down to the scrap yard and they asked me to show that I actually worked for a company that makes signs. I gave them a business card and they still questioned me so I asked for the yellow pages and showed them my ad in the signs section.
"There's your sign"
From: Zelmon [#14]
21 Sep 2006
To: ALL
You are not alone....we have the same problems in the UK. Like thieves lifting up manhole covers, handy for driving in the dark eh.
Yep all the problems in the previous posts affect us as well, but the USA will never catch up with the number of speed cameras in the UK, about 6,000, 4000 of which are sneaky little things in the back of small vans. As a rule, hit 38mph in a 30 limit and 'click' 3 points and $110. Twelve points gets you a years ban.
Then we have the cameras in police cars that clock your number plate as you approach their back window, by the time you have passed their front bumper they have your details on their computer screen in the patrol car, and I mean all your details, yep...big brother
The cameras that talk to you are for litter I think, in town centres.
The UK is turning into a Euro Safety Zone weighed down with paperwork, general crap and rules. Our local car club used to run a summer evening car show in a local pub in the country, been running for thirty years and was very poular. It isn't any more though, we could not afford the 'Risk Assesment Procedure' (What the hell is that) and insurance premiums. Oh and the local police force wanted $1200 for two policeman to stand outside all evening in case we had a riot or a fight broke out amongst the veteran car drivers.
I'll add a ps here as well, I don't want to get dragged into the the Stephen Spence arguement, cos I aint American, but we have all the same stuff here as well.....
I always think its funny, we are the exact opposite to the b....! French and they are only 50 miles over the chanel, yet America is halfway round the globe and we follow each other like clones on some aspects of life
Simon Cork
Sheffield UK
EDITED: 22 Sep 2006 by ZELMON
From: UCONN Dave & Lynn too (DANDL48) [#15]
22 Sep 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 22 Sep 2006
The plaque looks really nice in our family room. It reminds me of living there.
;-)
From: Jim (PUZZLEHEAD) [#16]
22 Sep 2006
To: Paul (JACKPETTY) [#13] 4 Oct 2006
Paul,
Had you gotten a quote on repairing the spelling error on the cast sign before you scrapped it? I have never had this done, but I have been told by manufacturers that spelling errors can be ground down and recast. In many cases it is probably less expensive to just buy a new sign, but if this was a large sign, it possibly could have saved some money.
From: Peter [#17]
23 Sep 2006
To: ALL
We are currently in the process of supplying a bronze cast sign in our fair city, that was unbolted and crow barred off a plinth..18" x 18"..
Copper, Bronze, Aluminium and stainless steel prices have caused an enormous spike in theft.
The incidence of copper piping being torn off of buildings is at almost epidemic rates here in Adelaide. ( Copper pipes for water are quite often run down the outside of buildings, generally older style places, and smaller commercial shopping strips)
Now the thieves are simply targetting historic plaques..
(devil)
Peter
From: Harvey only (HARVEY-ONLY) [#18]
24 Sep 2006
To: Peter [#17] 6 Oct 2006
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#19]
3 Oct 2006
To: Engravin' Dave (DATAKES) [#10] 3 Oct 2006
I came across a mention on the web of the bridge I had heard about being stolen in Eastern Europe. It happened in 2004:
Entire bridge stolen in southern Bosnia
SARAJEVO (AP) - In what could qualify for “Ripley’s Believe It or Not,†seven thieves stole an entire 13-meter bridge near the southern Bosnian town of Mostar, police said yesterday. Over several days, the group dismantled the metal bridge built during the Austro-Hungarian Empire some 150 years ago, transported the parts to a local junkyard and sold them, a police statement said. While it happened in a remote mountainous region, local villagers saw the thieves loading parts of the bridge into vans and alerted police yesterday. The seven men were arrested and are being held pending a decision by a prosecutor. Without disclosing their names, police said the Gypsies, or Roma, sold the metal parts for 280 convertible marks ($170 or 140 euros).
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#20]
3 Oct 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#19] 3 Oct 2006
What's more unbelievable than the story itself, is the fact that the villagers clammed up for several days, before alerting the authorities.
Maybe they were part of the work crew. :-)
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