Re: [SilverStreak] New Stainless Steel Hinges

["Tom Patterson" <pattersontj@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ralph,

Please do send me the pictures, and I will post them in the Silver Streak 
section of the website.

Maybe a little write-up to go along with them too?  I can probably just use 
what you have below in your Good news and Bad news.

-Tom

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ralph Cooke" <rcooke@bak.rr.com>
To: <sslist@tompatterson.com>
Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 6:20 PM
Subject: RE: [SilverStreak] New Stainless Steel Hinges


> STAINLESS STEEL HINGES
> I picked up my new Stainless Steel Hinges and my partially repaired
> door on Friday morning 5/23/08.  I spent Friday and Saturday
> completing the repairs and replacing the door seals on the door, and
> installing the hinges, then the door on my 26 foot 1972 Cont. Atlas.
> I had the hinges made up slightly oversize to hide all of the damage
> from four or five hinge replacements over the past 35 years.  Based on
> the hole patterns, the original hinges were much smaller, such as the
> older 1960's style.  I have taken a LOT of pictures and as soon as I
> get time I will download them to my computer and make them available
> to Tom to post, and will send them as email attachments to anyone who
> wants them, just send your email address to me at
> rcooke@bak.rr.com
>
> GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS. FIRST THE GOOD NEWS!
> The hinges fit and the doors operate perfectly.  I had to use a small
> "drift" to help line up all of the holes for the Pop Rivets.  The Pop
> Rivets are Large Head 3/16" Aluminum with a Steel Shank.  These are
> the strong, large head, rivets we use in Auto Racing and are available
> from "5 Star" in boxes of 500 Rivets.  5 Star is a maker of racing
> body panels and bodies for various classes of circle track race cars.
> I used an Air Operated Rivet Gun to "Set" the rivets, as a small hand
> rivet tool is not really adequate, it can be done, but will be a lot
> of work and very slow.
>
> Because the previous instillation of many sets of hinges left the
> trailer body looking like "Swiss Cheese", I also ran two 1/4" 4" long
> stainless steel bolts through each hinge and the body of the trailer,
> into the, sliding door cabinets next to the hinge side of the door.  I
> used Stainless Steel Lock Nuts and 1/4 inch Stainless Steel fender
> washers to secure the bolts.
>
> I installed the hinges with a layer of "CRL" Aluminum Silicone
> Sealant.  I bought the Silicone Sealant from a small local RV shop.
> "Camping World" does not carry this sealant.  I also used this sealant
> to seal the new Aluminum panel that repaired the damage to the top
> "latch side" of the door.  The use of the sealant sealed all of the
> extra holes in the trailer body and the two doors, as well as
> providing a seal around the Pop Rivets and Bolts that were used to
> mount the hinges to the trailer body and the doors.  I used quite a
> bit more of the sealant that necessary, but I am more interested in
> "Function" than" "cosmetics".  I lubricated the hinges with Silicone
> Spray Lubricant.
>
> NOW FOR THE BAD NEWS!
> PRICE.  My cost was $540 for the set of hinges.  I asked if there
> would be a lower price per hinge set if we order hinges in quantity.
> I was advised that as everything is very precise "Hand Detail" work so
> each set of hinges would cost the same.  Each hinge takes a little
> more than 3 Hrs for a total of 6 hours labor for a set of two hinges.
> The shop rate is $75 per hour, for a labor total of $450.  The special
> Stainless Steel Hinge material, plus the stainless plate and TIG
> welding supplies added another $90 for the total of $540.00  I know
> the material cost is accurate as I chased down the hinge material and
> the stainless plate and my cost was $81.40 including tax, so I was
> only charged $8.60 for the welding supplies.
>
> Only one man at the shop is capable of building the hinges, so "mass
> production is out of the question"
>
> I have been advised that if I prepay for each set of hinges, I can
> have any number of hinge sets made up at the $540.00 price, it will
> just take time, as there is only one man who can make the hinges, and
> it is all detailed and very precise "hand" work.  The guy that built
> the hinges is quite a "Craftsman".  I had been told in the past, by
> several larger fabrication shops, that they could not build the
> hinges.
>
> I was further advised by the shop owner, that he does not want to get
> into the "Hinge" business, and has no interest in building a lot of
> hinges and hoping to sell them.  I was also advised that if they did
> go to that effort, they would have to mark them up at their standard
> 40% mark up, making the end price $756.00 + Taxes of $54.81 for a
> total of $810.81.  As the shop has no interest in searching out
> potential buyers of the hinges, and or advertising, they will only
> build the number of hinge sets that I can prepay for.
>
> I will help anyone who wants a set of hinges get them at a price of
> $550 + shipping, I will check the shipping cost with UPS (they are
> more dependable than USPS for shipping high value items).  My guess is
> the cost, with insurance, will be in the range of $25 to $40,
> depending where in the country they are shipped to.  Because I have to
> be involved, I will add $10.00 to my $540.00 cost for the hinges, to
> cover my gasoline expenses only.
>
> I sure wish there was a cheaper way to get good dependable hinges for
> our Silver Streak's, but I, as well as many others of you, have been
> trying to get a source for hinges for the past two + years, and this
> is the only success I am aware of.
>
> I was able to purchase a set of "New" Silver Streak Hinges that I
> bought on Ebay over a year ago for $450.00 + $25 Freight, which I
> never installed, as I knew they would not last and there would by no
> more "Original Silver Streak Hinges" at any price.  I saved the hinges
> to use as a pattern for new stronger hinges and am now convinced I
> have a "PERMINANT" set of Stainless Steel hinges, they look good and
> should out last the trailer.  As all of us Silver Streak owners are in
> the same "Leaky boat" with respect to finding a solution to the hinge
> problem, I am willing to take a bit of my time to facilitate a
> solution to the problem.
>
> Several of you indicated that you needed more than one set of hinges,
> I suggest you get one set and assure your self that you are truly
> satisfied with the hinge fit and quality before you commit to more
> than one set of two hinges at $550.00 + freight per set.
>
> For anyone on the West Coast, I will be attending the Vintage Trailer
> Rally at Smithwoods RV Park at 4770 Highway 9, Felton CA 95018, Phone
> (831) 335-4321, on May 30 through June 1.  If you can drop by, you can
> see the new Stainless Steel Hinges installed on my Silver Streak.  I
> hope Tom will have a chance to attend the Rally, as his opinion of the
> hinges would carry a lot of weight.  Lets face it if it were not for
> Tom Patterson, we would not have this great resource for our Classic
> trailers, and we would not be able to share information and knowledge
> about our Silver Streak and Streamline trailers, campers, fifth wheels
> and motor homes.
>
> Ralph Cooke
> rcooke@bak.rr.com
>