Erik Levin muses:

 > Making a spring is easy, and finding a commercially made spring to 
fit is often not a big deal.

At one point I contemplated getting into spring-making, until I 
discovered this company a 15-minute drive from our home in the Los 
Angeles area:

http://www.centuryspring.com/

It's great fun looking through their showroom, and they are generous 
with samples. They also have a nice catalog.

Frank O'Donnell
South Pasadena, CA