Wanted: A certain Falcon from Malta

[Ragacin Noir]

Hi,
I doubt that this will yield anything but I have been looking for the Bird made by MK since I barely missed out on the first run some 3 years ago or so. Anyone willing to part with theirs to the tune of 250 smackers, please PM or email me at ragacin@bellsouth.net. I am not even sure what the original price was, so if this asking figure is too low, please advise. I am flexible .

I know that there will be one in the event in NYC as a prize, but I cannot attend that event .

Thanks.
Don B.

 

[J. M. Stovall]

You probably will have a better chance at getting Tom Cruise's P-51.

 

[Ragacin Noir]

I know, but I have to try

 

[Matt Deckard]

There is rumor that one is in New York. I'm going to follow up on this lead and take a trip there in May, you are welcome to join, though I warn you... it could be dangerous.

 

[Naphtali]

Since I am unfamiliar with the topic, I'm restating it to make sure I understand.

You are looking to buy a copy -- probably enamel covered lead -- of the Maltese Falcon shown in the 1941 movie?

You say that a company "MK" ran a bunch and sold them at retail [unknown number of] years ago?
***
When I was a teeny bopper, I remember reading of a company selling them, I think, in Dallas, Texas. This would have been in the 1960s. I saw a brief news item about it in -- please don't be offended -- Playboy. The news item was for that particular Christmas season. The price, at that time was $95.00.
***
If I restated your want accurately, you might consider commissioning an hobbyist jeweler or metal sculptor to recreate one by using some similar ceramic shape as pattern for temporary or one-off mold.

The reason you might be able to get away with this is that thick enamel/ceramic will conceal many flaws and inaccuracies of the casting. And lead flows at about 500-600 degrees F. The enamel could be something as easy as coloring investment casting ceramic, then dipping and drying until you have what you want. Remember, the ceramic serves aesthetic function only, so ruining its potential by altering its color means zip.

Just a thought.

 

[Ragacin Noir]

Hi,
Well no, not exactly. MK is a member of this forum and he did a sculpture of the Falcon based on direct observation and photos of one of the original birds in the hands of a private collector. He then cast the sculpture in resin and offered a very few copies for sale.
I am interested in one of those copies.
If anything in that account about the MK bird is inaccurate, please let me know.

 

[Feraud]

There is rumor that one is in New York. I'm going to follow up on this lead and take a trip there in May, you are welcome to join, though I warn you... it could be dangerous.

Very dangerous indeed. Some say the bird will surface briefly before disappearing into that vast Metropolis. The locals seem intent on making NYC the last stop on the bird's illustrious journey.. lol

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

Maltese Maltese Falcons

More Maltese isn't necessarily better.

This one is disputably worse than the LEGO owl:

These aren't that bad, though, of course, not prop replicas, which makes the otherwise annoying lettering necessary after all:

(Preview shows me the black stone falcon takes a lng time to load - maybe that's just today.)

I even thought about getting one; they're sold in Malta and online here.

Esteemed MK - in case you consider this unbearable and find one of your marvelous creations in the attic, kindly let me know. It doesn't have to be gold, really, I'd be happy with a student-budget black one.

I'm afraid I won't be able to make it to NYC in May, though I'm not sure yet.

 

["Doc" Devereux]

Very dangerous indeed. Some say the bird will surface briefly before disappearing into that vast Metropolis. The locals seem intent on making NYC the last stop on the bird's illustrious journey.. lol

From what I hear even a couple of European adventurers would be after it, but for the diabolical machinations that have stymied their plans.

 

[Ragacin Noir]

I also want to emphatically state that MK has always been courteous in responding to my emails after all this time and I very much understand why he has kept these at a low number. I understand that he wishes this to be kept as a true collectable and not a $19.99 recast special on eBay. I just hope he understands that I do truely want one of these birds and that he is not offended by me asking in the forum. If so, the thread can be summarily removed, no problem. I just thought it may be my best bet

 

[Feraud]

[QUOTE="Doc" Devereux]From what I hear even a couple of European adventurers would be after it, but for the diabolical machinations that have stymied their plans.[/QUOTE] Some people will stop at nothing to keep the "rara avis" from leaving NYC! lol
<img src="http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4955/16im.png" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

Yes, this remark reminds me that it is maybe better I wasn't here yet then, as my budget was even more limited than it is now.

 

[The Wolf]

I too have searched for this "trinket"

I had hunted for some time when I thought I had found the dingus in a curio shop in Sausalito. Hoping the owner didn't know its true worth, I paid my money and left. It was not until it fell and chipped that I realized it was a cheap plaster copy with a veneer of black lacquer. The Russian had tricked me again.

The Wolf

 

[Marc Chevalier]

You could always travel to Malta and capture a falcon there. Right? Right?

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

You could always travel to Malta and capture a falcon there. Right? Right?

Wrong, wrong, I'm afraid. If I remember aright, the same Maltese shop somewhere on the website says there aren't any more live falcons on the island.

By the way, I think I know why MK's great falcons aren't mass-produced and -distributed: they look so original, people always smash them to look for the treasure.

 

[Nathan Flowers]

.

I'll sell you mine....





For one million dollars!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

... there aren't any more live falcons on the island [of Malta].

If the movie were ever remade, it would have to be The Extinct Maltese Falcon.


.

 

[Ragacin Noir]

I'll sell you mine....





For one million dollars!

Zohar,
Will you take a check?

 

[Nathan Flowers]

.

Cashier's check, yes

 

["Doc" Devereux]

I've got a check from the Prince of Wales...