I have a serious-ish idea for a hardtail frame, where might I be able to get a prototype made?

Talk to Brant .

to put into production?

or for yourself?

and in what material?

Any of the UK based custom frame builders.

A one-off for myself to start, maybe a small run if it’s a goer.

Steel would be ace, ally is ok.

I’d be looking at the most local reputable frame builder to you in that case. so you can discuss at length all your needs.
Looking forwards to hearing all about it BTW.

From your posts I’d have recommended curtis but you’re nowhere near the S/W or are you?

North East.

Carbon Wasp in Leeds http://www.carbonwasp.com/

Currently making me a set of cranks, but some of their frames are amazing. (check instagram)

You can buy a one-off titanium frame from China in 6 weeks for about $800 which is probably less than you’ll pay for a custom design in steel from a UK builder who will probably take longer.

Sick? 😀

New old idea – elevated stays? I just made my own frame(s) in the shed (e-stay was 2011).

Ti from China or steel from the guy I can’t remember the name of in South America will be your cheapest options. Spend a lot of time on the design detail as very hard to get MK 1 of anything right first time (iterations in CAD much cheaper than metal).

Sick? 😀

They use Marino/FTW/anyone with a free lunchbreak…

Thanks for the replies, all very helpful apart from the Sick one… And no carbon fibre, I’m not a fan.

Another vote for Chinese Ti.

I’ve had two off Waltly, and truss forks from XACD.

Waltly were great to deal with. Everything can be specced as you want, comms were easy. They are quite happy to build oddball stuff if you want.
XACD frontman Porter is a bit of a nutter, but the work was good.

First frame was about £850 , second is discounted by $100.

Marino is the South American fella.