I spoke with Mike Ames this morning about his experience
in purchasing lead tubing.  He needed 10mm and 8mm tubing for
restoring a Mortier.  On a recommendation from a friend, Mike
contacted either "Mark" or "Rick" at

          Vulcan Lead, Inc
          1400 W. Pierce
          Milwalkee WI 53204

          414-645-2040

One of them determined the alloy for the tubing -- they know
about the use of their tubing for pneumatic instruments.  This
tubing was known as "1%" tubing, which I assume has something to
do with the alloy and resulting hardness.

There was a "die" charge, and there is a minumum run.  Mike got
a consortium of hobbiest together and they split the die charges.
Vulcan was good enough to split up the production run to order and
ship differrent lengths to each hobbiest.

They ran 9050 feet of 10mm and 6550 feet of 8mm.  The final cost (not
counting shipping) was $6.50 die charge per hobbiest (25 hobbyists) and
$0.32/ft for the 10mm tubing and $0.23/ft for the 8mm tubing.  This was in
1991 and prices and policies may have changed.

If someone decides to get a group together for such a production run,
Mike can be contacted for more information.

Jody