A stainless steel reproduction would be an excellent idea except for one big problem - cost. I'm not an expert when it comes to metal casting techniques but I do think it might be less expensive to look into making a reproduction using either bronze or brass or perhaps some other material. Stainless steel is an expensive and difficult material to work with and there might not be many metal foundries in the US willing to do the work.
I'm well aware a brass or bronze casting won't look the same as the original but the cost might be more in line with what people are willing to pay for a reproduction. Maybe the metal repro. could then be plated to look somewhat similar to the original. Plating would also allow the use of several different casting materials - not just metal.
Anyway its just a thought..........
