Originally Posted by
markk900
So got an email back from Hugh at True North Cycles - he was very helpful and estimated the work required (with the caveat that sometimes just working on them can be a pain). However, the cost (though quite reasonable for the labour involved and compared to bikes of today) is out of line with the value of the bike and the money I can currently spend on restoration. About the same as a new custom lugged fork.
I also more carefully checked the spare fork I already have and though it is not as interesting as the original, it fits perfectly and the geometry appears the same (ie. Fork ends land in the same spot as the originals, though the curve to get there is longer and more gradual). So I am off to find a compatible headset just to get the bike on the road. The original fork will be kept until I decide whether a true restoration should be done (ie all new chrome, "real" paint, and real money). At least I know someone that can fix it!
I think this is a fine approach. Do what you can to get it on the road, but keep the original fork and hopefully/eventually you can get the fork repaired. As per the consensus, I would not trust the current fork unless new blades are installed due to risk of propagation of the crack. Nothing scares me more than a sudden catastrophic fork failure, save for the more probable incident of a high speed dooring. There must be a number of qualified frame builders within shipping distance who could remove the compromised blades and install new blades with matching dimensions for the cost of an Ottowa Senators date night. That's the eventual approach I would explore.
Edit: New fork looks like a good place holder.