donna123 188 Posted February 28 Report Share Posted February 28 Went to the Blow-molded site and found a full redesign and updated items! You can look up blow molds in different ways. There are even catalogs to download and browse. Some of the blow molds now have a front and back view. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful update! 💟 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott Rob 106 Posted March 1 Report Share Posted March 1 This is great!!!! Thanks for letting everyone know Donna! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doneal 15 Posted March 1 Report Share Posted March 1 https://www.blow-molded.com/Â This is the one ins't it? Â Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott Rob 106 Posted March 1 Report Share Posted March 1 Yes it looks like a full redesign! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mel Fischer 420 Posted March 10 Report Share Posted March 10 It is a full redesign with many new features, blow molds and information I still have not learned everything new yet, Mel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
donna123 188 Posted March 11 Author Report Share Posted March 11 On 3/9/2021 at 8:34 PM, Mel Fischer said: It is a full redesign with many new features, blow molds and information I still have not learned everything new yet, Mel Hi Mel, I have a question......What is a "cast".  Under the "more" heading I see the item listed as a cast, but why is that a cast and not a prototype? What is the difference? Thanks, Donna Quote Link to post Share on other sites
papillionlights 4 Posted March 12 Report Share Posted March 12 (edited) 23 hours ago, donna123 said: Hi Mel, I have a question......What is a "cast".  Under the "more" heading I see the item listed as a cast, but why is that a cast and not a prototype? What is the difference? Thanks, Donna Hi Donna, The "Ghoul" cast on the site is likely resin, and possibly somewhat hollow, but being upwards of 50lbs it is at minimum heavy. Depending on the manufacturer's process, a cast could be either used to create a negative mold (the inverted form) out of something such as cast aluminum, or to test a machined (think carved) negative mold that would later by used during the blow-molded process. Either way, casts were commonly a one-time part of the initial creation process of a new design. It is possible for some manufacturers to have then painted and re-used the resin casts, but that is difficult to confirm without physical access to the piece. The site is a bit loose with its use of "prototype" since many of the pictures are better described as samples. It is something I wish to refine in the future. Given the cast serves a different purpose and is made of a different material (not blow-molded), it gets its own special page.  Edited March 12 by papillionlights 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Light in the Dark 17 Posted March 12 Report Share Posted March 12 Was curious if there is a plan to add municipal blow molds to the site? For example, general plastics lanterns, double sided, bells, etc? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
papillionlights 4 Posted March 12 Report Share Posted March 12 (edited) 1 minute ago, Light in the Dark said: Was curious if there is a plan to add municipal blow molds to the site? For example, general plastics lanterns, double sided, bells, etc? If you have some, or know someone who does, I would absolutely be welcome to adding them to the site. https://blow-molded.com/contribute gives you a quick guide for submitting photos. Edited March 12 by papillionlights Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Light in the Dark 17 Posted March 12 Report Share Posted March 12 Great. I'll start getting some pics! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
donna123 188 Posted March 12 Author Report Share Posted March 12 12 hours ago, papillionlights said: Hi Donna, The "Ghoul" cast on the site is likely resin, and possibly somewhat hollow, but being upwards of 50lbs it is at minimum heavy. Depending on the manufacturer's process, a cast could be either used to create a negative mold (the inverted form) out of something such as cast aluminum, or to test a machined (think carved) negative mold that would later by used during the blow-molded process. Either way, casts were commonly a one-time part of the initial creation process of a new design. It is possible for some manufacturers to have then painted and re-used the resin casts, but that is difficult to confirm without physical access to the piece. The site is a bit loose with its use of "prototype" since many of the pictures are better described as samples. It is something I wish to refine in the future. Given the cast serves a different purpose and is made of a different material (not blow-molded), it gets its own special page.  Hi Papillionlights, Thank you for the explanation. I appreciate it. Donna Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mel Fischer 420 Posted March 12 Report Share Posted March 12 3 hours ago, donna123 said: Hi Papillionlights, Thank you for the explanation. I appreciate it. Donna HI Donna, I was sure he could explain it better then I could so I asked him if he would. Mel 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
donna123 188 Posted March 13 Author Report Share Posted March 13 5 hours ago, Mel Fischer said: HI Donna, I was sure he could explain it better then I could so I asked him if he would. Mel Mel, Thanks so much! I appreciate it. 👍 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
HowardFamilyChristmasDisplay 18 Posted March 14 Report Share Posted March 14 Mel, the site looks amazing!!! You guys did a great job! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mel Fischer 420 Posted March 14 Report Share Posted March 14 Most of the credit for how the website looks should go to my friend Nick as he has done and is still doing all the work of formatting the website and updating it as more pictures and information are submitted. THANK YOU NICK for bringing a lot of the enthusiasm and enjoyment of doing the research on the blow molds back for me again. As you know I am back taking pictures again after a couple of years of not doing so and thanks to you I am once again learning more of the history of the blow molds and their manufacturers. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott Rob 106 Posted March 14 Report Share Posted March 14 I also would like to thank Nick and Mel. I like Mel have also began taking photos of the blow mold I have that are missing from site. And sending them in. To me it’s really fun to see the history. When I went to GFP the folks there were very nice and knowledgeable about their products. I wish I had gotten there information and stayed in contact with them. side thought.... Years ago I talked to a lady there about making a small run (min. 600 units) of large choirs boys girls 48”. They went the extra mile to find them and discovered they had been damaged in flood at NC plant (old empire plant). They had a flood and all the non production large molds that were on floor were damaged from water. It think it was like 2ft water in mold storage building steal and Aluminum molds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mel Fischer 420 Posted March 15 Report Share Posted March 15 As I recall, I think I was told that the flood you refer to was in 1995 when Empire was still in business and owned the plant. Mel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scott Rob 106 Posted March 15 Report Share Posted March 15 (edited) Maybe I don’t remember that area has flooding issues. I was thinking about it I called them around 2010. I know they had bad flood in 2009 hurricane Floyd landed near plant. She said roof and building had damaged due to hurricane. So I am not sure which flood damaged the molds. Also I did ask about 40” choir angle that BECO made and both were damaged. Edited March 15 by Scott Rob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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