[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by gunbugs

" but once patterns and assembly technique are nailed down, it would be easy to make more. "

It's always "easy" when someone else is doing it.
Folks come into my shop and one of the first things they say is "this'll be easy". I reply,"then why didn't you already do it?"

Buy the tools, develop your skills, hang a shingle. "It's easy".

I should have said relatively easier. I totally agree with what you said; the same is absolutely true for metal/fabricating work. Nonetheless, there should be a significant price difference between a one-off of anything versus the price of a unit among even a limited series.