Newbie Needs Help

[Marks1]

My son wanted a new kite becuase our old one broke. I have always bought cheap ones from a department stone and then just throw them away after a couple of uses. Our neighbor was having a yard sell and we stopped there on our way to walley world. The neigbor was selling what looked like a really nice kite so I bought it. It was handmade by someone named Ansel Toney that lived close to his parents. The flew it a couple of times and he got it after they died but never flew it. The kite is 30 years old but looks almost new. It is box delta that is 11 feet across. it was missing the back cross rod. It does not have a pocket for the rod just a couple of metal rings. The distance between the metal rings in 62 inches.

Any help with what I need to buy and where I should by it would be appreciated. I live in central KY and we do not have any kite stores in our area. Here are some pictures that I hope will help.

Thanks.

[John Barresi]

I'll concede to the superior knowledge of others for parts suggestions, but I think you've got a nice piece of kite history there.

http://kitelife.com/forum/topic/3893-kite-maker-ansel-toney/
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1985-04-19/features/8501230256_1_delta-kite-kite-man-em
http://www.winchesternewsgazette.com/articles/2013/04/30/news/doc51803a6a0eb48216723603.txt

FYI, the kite type itself appears to be a Double Conyne.

[John Barresi]

Also, not sure if you're on Facebook or not but I posted a couple of links to this topic...

https://www.facebook.com/kitelifemagazine/posts/716286588482059
https://www.facebook.com/groups/KiteHistory/permalink/827145264044033/

No new friendships required, those are public access for anyone on FB.

[Marks1]

Thanks for the article links and the history of the maker. Very interesting. I am glad that bought it.

Since the missing back cross rod was handmade of bass wood and notched to fit the rings does anyone know of a substitute that I could use? Not sure I could make a proper replacement.

[Wayne Dowler]

How long is it from ring point to ring point? Might be able to get a wooden dowel that long, (if less than 48"), or you may have to go with a carbon rod, ferruled together, and arrow nocks at the ends. At least as big around as whatever is in the leading edge. I'm sure any good kite shop can give you recommendations on what to use!

Good Luck!

[Marks1]

It is 62 inches from ring point to ring point. There are no kite stores in my area. Could you recommend an online store?

[Wayne Dowler]

Not sure if his store is "online", but I know Andy at Ocean Shores kites in Ocean Shores Washington can help!

[Marks1]

Thanks. I will call him.

[Wayne Dowler]

This is an FB link to him, I think:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ocean-Shores-Kites/100862176634409?fref=nf

[hyzakite]

Just go to your local hardware store and buy a wood dowel. They are probably made out of basswood. Go out in the woods and grab a skinny branch, a dead dried out one would be better than waiting for one to dry out. The cross piece only a spreader a dowel from the hardware store will work just fine. And shipping a 5+ foot box would be a waste of money with a wooden dowel in it.