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Taunton Featured in Cape Cod News
V&S Taunton Galvanizing was recently featured in the Cape Cod News for restoring a historical community statue. Ben, a community icon, was hit by a car last summer in front of Titcomb's Bookshop in East Sandwich, necessitating much TLC and a lengthy recovery. V&S Taunton agreed to do the work on Ben as a community service project, saving the City of East Sandwich, MA hefty restoration bills.
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Reprint of Article featured in Cape Cod Times, April 2011
(http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110417/NEWS/104170327)
By George Brennan
gbrennan @ capecodonline.com
April 17, 2011
This tin man has plenty of heart.
Taking a major step in his recovery from injuries sustained when he was struck by a car last summer, Ben, the colonial figure that stands watch outside Titcomb's Bookshop on Route 6A in East Sandwich, was dipped in 800-degree zinc — a measure aimed at keeping him healthy well into the 22nd century.
"It's like having open heart surgery, two kidneys and a colonoscopy all in the same day," said Philip Scannell, sales and marketing manager at V&S Galvanizing LLC. The Taunton company took on Ben's rehabilitation even though its massive vats are usually reserved to galvanize objects such as bridge platforms, steel beams or railings for places such as Fenway Park.
On Wednesday, Scannell had his workers dip Ben into what can only be described as the fountain of youth for statues — a hot bath of zinc that will keep him from rusting.
"It was nerve-wracking," Steve Jackson, a quality control manager at V&S, said shortly after the procedure. "It was interesting, especially since he is such a historic figure."
Indeed, Ben is legendary in East Sandwich. After he was struck by a vehicle driven by a 16-year-old girl in July, customers, neighbors and even Barnstable Superior Court Judge Gary Nickerson noticed Sandwich's "best-loved citizen" was gone from his perch. School children have been sending Ben "get well" cards.
Crafted by Ralph and Nancy Titcomb's son Ted 38 years ago while he was still a student, Ben has become a roadside icon at the book store. It took Ted Titcomb several months to rehab Ben to a point where he could undergo Wednesday's delicate procedure. The 500-pound statue was hauled to Taunton in the back of a truck and readied for his dip.
Originally, Scannell had invited a Times reporter and photographer to witness the procedure. But Wednesday morning, he had workers do it without the added pressure of an audience.
"I had to dip him before you got here," Scannell said, apologizing. "I was worried he was going to crack."
The two "surgeons" — Jackson and Josh Nolette, V&S production manager — described the process, saying Ben was lowered into the bubbling zinc in a cage just in case something broke off in the process. Before the molten plunge, they drilled holes into his head and the book he clutches to make sure nothing exploded from the pressure.
As nearby V&S employees dipped large columns for a University of Massachusetts project and readied bridge decks for roadwork in Everett, Jackson and Nolette carefully hoisted Ben — looking like some kind of 18th century tin man — onto a pallet with wheels to move him to "recovery."
Once inside that part of the massive warehouse, Ben was pressure washed to remove ash and sprayed-painted with a primer that got him ready for Friday's return trip to the Cape.
Now that he's home, Nancy Titcomb will do the final paint job, restoring his colonial red coat, yellow vest and blue pants.
"It's very exciting," she said. "Every day people come in and ask about him."
V&S Galvanizing has six locations across the country and is based in Ohio. Company officials Terry Wolfe and Bob Messler agreed to do the work on Ben as a community service project — so the Titcombs won't face hefty "medical" bills estimated at more than $2,000.
Employees at the company have rallied around the project and are enjoying their work with Ben, Scannell said. While workers there have done other statues, they're usually something brand new — not an aging star like Ben.
"This is our first reclamation project. He should begood for another 100 years," Scannell said. "That means just as I retire, we'll have to do him again."
