It has progressively dried up since the folk art craze started. As interest and prices increased, reproductions started hitting the market. I tell people any time a weight is getting up pretty high in price, look for the possibility of reproductions. Rust will vary from northeast to southwest depending on moisture, temperature, or even acid rain. Learn who made good castings and what was a bit poorer.
Reproductions have their place in the hobby, primarily for restored windmills.
Although reproduction weights save money for restorers, the cost to collectors is dear when they filter into the secondary market and are sold as vintage weights. In addition to reproductions, rust and paint are also pet topics with Lawrence. He warns collectors to beware of fresh paint on a windmill weight. Collectors should ask to have newer paint stripped off in order to look at the casting and check for repairs. He said it's acceptable to leave old, weathered paint on a weight, especially since early paint has great appeal to folk art collectors.