I posted several months about a free spirit 10 speed that I plan to get into rideable condition.

There's just one more snag... the seat post. It doesn't have one.

I took the bike to a local shop and it seems they don't have one that fits, nor can they order one for me.

It's 3/4", (Or 20 mm should do it) and they don't have anything close to that. Their smallest was like 25.5 mm.

Any suggestions? I guess if nothing else, I can just get a piece of galvanized steel from a hardware store or something. (It's what they suggested)

I want to spend as little as possible on it.

Note: the bike was made sometime in the seventies, I think.