Silver Plating Headlight Reflectors

[Elcastor]

Has anyone had recent experience with getting their headlight reflectors re-plated with silver?

The sticky at the top of the page has the following 4 suggestions:
1. www.queencityplating.com Queen City Plating 425-315-1992 (Washington)
2. www.frankfordplatinginc.com Frankford Plating, Inc (Pennsylvania)
3. [email protected] Craig Riker 419-290-4442 (Ohio)
4. www.nu-chrome.com Nu-Chrome (Massachusetts)

I called the first one on the list (Queen City) and they quoted me between $200 - $400 each, depending on condition. Sounded high to me. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[Charlie Stephens]

Sounds like they haven't done very many of them, and at that price they probably will not. They are probably really trying to say we are busy, take your work somewhere else (or give us lots of money). Maybe they just don't understand what in involved and want to pad the price just in case. Try number 2, they will probably try harder.

Charlie Stephens

[fcwilkie]

Might wish to try Bert's in Denver, CO - $90 per pair according to their catalog.

Call them at 1-800-321-1931

[Elcastor]

Originally Posted by fcwilkie

Might wish to try Bert's in Denver, CO - $90 per pair according to their catalog.

Call them at 1-800-321-1931

That is where I started. Bert's was out of re-plated 1928 reflectors and said that it would be quite some time before they got more, so I bought ones that needed re-plating from Bert's......

[Hunter]

Call Craig Riker on your list. He just did 2 for me. Much more reasonable

[Gary Karr]

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We have been using this plating shop for years on silver plating.
Chidgey & Sons
1099 W. Palm Ave.
El Cajon, Ca 92020
(619) 441-2505

[1crosscut]

I'll second the recommendation for Craig Riker. I sent my originals to him and got them back this week. All in less that 12 days from the day I sent them to him. Nice job and very reasonable.
Dave

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by 1crosscut

I'll second the recommendation for Craig Riker. I sent my originals to him and got them back this week. All in less that 12 days from the day I sent them to him. Nice job and very reasonable.
Dave

What's reasonable?

[1crosscut]

$79.00 Including the ride back home. I guess it all depends on how much work yours would need.
Dave

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by 1crosscut

$79.00 Including the ride back home. I guess it all depends on how much work yours would need.
Dave

That is the definition of reasonable!

[Steve Plucker]

Originally Posted by Gary Karr

We have been using this plating shop for years on silver plating.
Chidgey & Sons
1099 W. Palm Ave.
El Cajon, Ca 92020
(619) 441-2505

Gary,

What other type of plating do they do?

Pluck

[30Tudor]

Just got my original reflectors back from Brinkman's in St. Paul MN. They did a fantastic job with the re-Silvering and removing a couple of scratches and minor dents. Best price I was able to find. I am really pleased. Contact is Vern at 1-877-798-8577

Thanks Tom W for referring them to me!

[Elcastor]

Thanks for the suggestions! I will give them a call next week.

[Elcastor]

I decided to use:

Chidgey & Sons
1099 W. Palm Ave.
El Cajon, Ca 92020
(619) 441-2505

And talked to Mr. Chidgey at some length and he sounds like quite an antique car guy. I believe he told me that he has 9 antique cars, and has been in business for about 30 years. He said that the cost of silver plating is usually about $50 per reflector.

[Bruce Adams]

I paid around $100 at Hershey including the reflectors two years ago and they are GREAT !
I was just looking at them this evening when I opened the garage door while bringing the car homw after dark, and they are the color and intensity of a modern car's headlights.

[Tom Endy]

About 10 years ago there was a company called Uviria that a lot of Model A'ers were using. Their process was supposed to be better that silver plating. It was some type of high tech sealed plating that was used in the aero-space industry and the hospital industry. It was touted to never tarnish. Don't know if they are still in business. Price in 2002 was $65\pair.

Uviria Inc.
P.O. Box 1137
310 Pleasant Valley Rd.
Merlin, OR 97532

Phone 541-956-6880

You can also go on line and pull up some information about them.

Tom Endy

[Deluxe Delivery Don]

Originally Posted by Gary Karr

We have been using this plating shop for years on silver plating.
Chidgey & Sons
1099 W. Palm Ave.
El Cajon, Ca 92020
(619) 441-2505

The Chidgey's use to be in Seattle ,Wa. ( years ago ) Great people , They moved to San Diego about 33 years ago, Still send work to them, and they do great work. Ask for Don. Jack is the Dad and is still working,I Think is about 82 now. The family was at my wedding here in Seattle 35 years ago and Jack took me out on my 21 first birthday 39 years ago, Oh My God , where as the time gone.

[Deluxe Delivery Don]

Originally Posted by Steve Plucker

Gary,

What other type of plating do they do?

Pluck

Steve, they also do Brass work, No Chrome or Nickel Plating. There primery business is Silver Plating and Polishing.

[Deluxe Delivery Don]

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

Sounds like they haven't done very many of them, and at that price they probably will not. They are probably really trying to say we are busy, take your work somewhere else (or give us lots of money). Maybe they just don't understand what in involved and want to pad the price just in case. Try number 2, they will probably try harder.

Charlie Stephens

The owner has a real strange business practice,even in this economy. If he is busy he raises his prices and then lowers them when he is slow. But when he is slow he really lowers them a lot, He must be really busy right now. He does really nice work and does a lot of cars for the Pebble Beach Show and a lot of High- end Boat Stuff.