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DavidG · 02-03-2020, 09:42 PM

Sorry, but I don't think I wrote that the bare metal had to be prepped to create a satin finish, but rather the opposite. The nickel plating's finish (back then using dull nickel) came out dull, it was then selectively polished mechanically (grille bar leading edges, lower part of handbrake, etc.) and then chrome plated. There excellent photos at the BFRC showing this being done on '34 grilles. The chrome plating did/does not significantly alter the finish of the underlying nickel plating. The polished portion came/comes out bright and the unpolished portions stay dull. Any NOS or excellent original '33-'37 grille shows off the effect dramatically when comparing the bright finish of the raised portion of the perimeter compared to the dull finish of the recessed area outside the raised portion.

Another example are original deluxe closed car windshield frames, bright on the outside, dull on the inside as only the outside of the frame was mechanically polished post nickel plating.

02-03-2020, 09:42 PM	#22
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: Chrome shop using dull nickel . Sorry, but I don't think I wrote that the bare metal had to be prepped to create a satin finish, but rather the opposite. The nickel plating's finish (back then using dull nickel) came out dull, it was then selectively polished mechanically (grille bar leading edges, lower part of handbrake, etc.) and then chrome plated. There excellent photos at the BFRC showing this being done on '34 grilles. The chrome plating did/does not significantly alter the finish of the underlying nickel plating. The polished portion came/comes out bright and the unpolished portions stay dull. Any NOS or excellent original '33-'37 grille shows off the effect dramatically when comparing the bright finish of the raised portion of the perimeter compared to the dull finish of the recessed area outside the raised portion. Another example are original deluxe closed car windshield frames, bright on the outside, dull on the inside as only the outside of the frame was mechanically polished post nickel plating.