Blake Parts

[westrong]

Hi Guys,

I'm having no luck at all trying to find parts for a couple Baby Blake heads. One head is frozen completely and the other has issues. Does anybody know who might still sell the rebuilding kits?

 

[ktm500mx]

st brennans isle mail forwarding service is now the us distribtor for blake and lavac.
hope that helps.
later mike

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

"Still" sell??? Blake is not obsolete

Blake is a UK mfr of the two (arguably three) best manual toilets on the planet...the Blake Victory, which at today's rate of exchange sells for over $3000 and your Baby Blake which sells for close to $2000 USD. They also make the Blake Lavac which costs a LOT less.

St. Brendan's Isle in FL in the US distributor for the Lavac http://www.lavac.com/ and SHOULD be able to get you the kits and/or parts you need for your Baby Blakes. If they can't, you can get them directly from Blakes Blake toilets

 

[westrong]

Thanks everybody. I sent out emails to the UK mfr but never got a reply, I'll try the US company tomorrow morning. Peggy, sorry for saying "still"...I was wrongly informed that that the Blake was discontinued.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Whatever the parts cost, spend it if you can...

At least enough to restore one of the toilets if you can't afford to do both now. If you want to know what Baby Blakes sell for, just google "Baby Blake." The only retailers that will show up will be in the UK...use a currency coverter (I use this one Currency Calculator) to convert their prices to USD. It's worth every dime it'll cost you to restore 'em.

I just checked current prices for the Baby Blake...UK discount retailer's price for a new on converted to $3961!

And y'all think a Raritan PH II is expensive!

 

[sailingdog]

Ouch...just curious, why do you think a Baby Blake commands such a price???

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Because they can get that much, and also because they're all bronze and built to last 100+ years with minimal maintenance...the last toilet anyone would ever need to buy. People move 'em from boat to boat and leave 'em to their kids in their wills. Plus, as the price of metals has increased, it's driven the price WAY up in the last year.

If you think the price of the Baby Blake is high, the Blake Victory, the larger "throne," sells for a staggering 9999.99 British pounds, which converts at today's rate of exchange to just under $15,000 USD. Why would anyone spend that much? For the same reason they'd spend over $100k for a Rolls Royce. However, in the current world economic situation, people may not be buying many of either one.

The original Wilcox-Crittenden Imperial, which sold for nearly $1000 20 years ago was a pretty good clone of the Blake Victory...the original W-C Skipper for about $750 20 years ago was a close clone of the Baby Blake...and adjusted for inflation, their prices today would be close to the price of the Baby Blake. However, both were discontinued when Thetford-Norcold bought W-C (the Skipper II is a poor plastic imitation)...W-C doesn't even offer parts for 'em any more.

These toilets are all bronze and designed to work differently from the common piston/cylinder toilet. Flush water intake and discharge are separate, for one thing.

 

[sailingdog]

Thanks for that info Peggie. I can see why they might be worth it... but the next head I'm getting will probably be a Lavac.

 

[westrong]

I emailed the US distributor today. I'l let you guys know what I find out and the costs of parts.

I do have to say that the quality of these toilets appear to be amazing. Just the looks of the exterior tells you you're not dealing with a Jabsco here. I actually can't wait to tear into it and see how she's built.

 

[BILGEDIVER]

Hi Guys,

I'm having no luck at all trying to find parts for a couple Baby Blake heads. One head is frozen completely and the other has issues. Does anybody know who might still sell the rebuilding kits?

Try these folk in the UK as they will probably accept your credit card details.


http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/toilet-systems/baby-blake-deluxe-toilet-spares-spares-kit922233.bhtml

 

[westrong]

Try these folk in the UK as they will probably accept your credit card details.


http://www.mailspeedmarine.com/toilet-systems/baby-blake-deluxe-toilet-spares-spares-kit922233.bhtml

Thanks bilge' ...I just heard from SBI, they are quoting $332.00 USD for a "Spare Kit". I'll have to break out the currency converter and see how the prices compare. Scott at SBI did send me the pdf documentation of the Blakes which will be very helpful as well.