Author:
Rich D.
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Date Posted: 08/ 17/ 09, 10:10am
Below is a copy of my post on the Wanderlodge Owners Online forum. The pictures won't show up here but you should be able to see the information to order. NOTE: Since I posted there, I received my handles and had two gold plated at a local shop. They are close enough so I didn't have to replace all.
REPRINT
Bill & Ann, Wow, a coincidence!! I just went through this last week when one broke on our '99. The handles I have are made by Sugitsune and have the marking "LAMP" under the lift handle.
If yours are like the picture above, there is good news and bad news. Bad news is that they are discontinued and there are none available in brass either in the US or in Japan. Good news is that the importer has a limited quantity of the nickle (chrome) finish available for less than $12.00 each. I just ordered 8 pieces. Six will be used to replace all if it becomes necessary and I'm sending two out to a local custom plating shop to be brass plated. If the match is exact, I'll just need the one or if quite close, I can change the two that are side by side. As a last resort, I'll change all to the nickle finish as they should look "OK" set into the silver mirror.
Here is the contact info at the wholesaler:
Jim Smith
Sugatsune America, Inc.
221 East Selandia Lane
Carson, CA 90746-1414
310-329-6373
800-562-5267
FAX 310-329-0819
Jim gave me a local retailer who ordered them for me and they will be shipped direct to me from the CA wholesaler.
The model number of my original brass handles is "FH-100BM-11" and the nickle finish number that is available is "FH-100BM-00" . These are the ones with the spring, there is a similar handle without a spring too which carries an "AM" in the model number instead of "BM". Blue Bird had only one nickle finish in stock and no brass finish.
As far as removal of the old ones, that is a little tricky because, in their infinite wisdom, the factory decided not to use the screws provided which would have been visible on the inside of the door and, instead, glued the handle in with a gob of silicone. To remove the broken one, I drilled a hole about 1/2 way down from the top being careful not to go deep enough to go through the door and threaded a long lag screw into the hole again being careful not to go through the door. By pulling and wiggling the lag screw, the handle came free. Obviously, one should not try to pry out the flush handle as the mirror could be broken.
I'll post as soon as the handles arrive, should be in a few days. Now that I think about it, I may reconsider and have them all plated brass. That way I'm covered whether or not they match exactly and will still have spares.
Isn't this forum a wonderful way to share information about our Birds!!
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