Chrome shop using dull nickel .

[FlatheadTed]

Going by the vent handle and hand brakes I have looked at, if you polished the part then plated it with a satin chrome or whatever it wouldn't come out the butler Finnish look, it seems to me to require the texture of the bare metal (as you said David ) coupled with the type of plating to get the look ,But hay ??

[DavidG]

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.

[FlatheadTed]

I think were on the same page here David to use your example of the windscreen frame using just one plating process plus not masking of you get two different finishes ,one on the front because its polished and one on the back with no polishing thus utilising the frosted texture of the steel to get two looks with the one process. In the case of the hand brake the grip is usually polished and the shank is textured like what sand blasting would give you ,

[DavidG]

But it is the polishing of the dull nickel plating post plating, not the polishing of the base metal before plating that creates the different finish outcome.

[FlatheadTed]

I can see why Ford with there high production would utilise sand blasting to remove stamping marks on grill bar edges and hand brakes ,

[David J]

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This is where it is headed .
After talking with Jon I am comfortable with his shop doing the plating .

I'll let you know how it turns out .

Thanks for all the good info as it was nice to actually have a clue .
Unlike the first shop I called .

Originally Posted by swanwaco32

Jon Wright Custom Chrome Plating can do it in Grafton Ohio. 440 926 3116

[Frank Miller]

I was always led to believe that Butler finish was due to the nickel being buffed with an abrasive compound before chroming. That is what I have read in Model A books. Stuff may have changed for V8s. Also chrome is more like a protective clear for nickel. Triple plating consists of copper, nickel and chrome. It keeps the nickel from tarnishing.

[whizzernick]

I have been told(dont remember who) when ford chrome plated parts (grills- bumpers- gear shift-bottom of hand brake. ) the part HAD to be polished to get the mirror like effect of chrome. If you did not polish -the part was dull . If you, look at the hand brake on my original 33 2 door. you see shine like chrome on the top and dull below (because that section was NOT polished.) as to dull nickle
(OLD) bright nickle ( now ) If you look at interior handles. nickle finish ( I am not sure if maybe the nickle had to be polished. I know that even the bright nickle we have to day gets dull with time but can be polished ( like silver )I have many original interior handles and all can be polished --- but the end result is not as bright as the nickle you get today.
One other point: look at the engine turned panel on a 32 & 33 ford. It is what I call

dull swirled spots (engine turned) in a certain pattern. I have in the past tried to duplicate. The end result was way too shiny . I think if I had that original dull crome I would get results more like original .

[David J]

This is who did it and I also sent some of the roadster stuff . Excellent results and it is NOT the blue hue of modern chrome . Jon did say I started with probably the nicest windshield frame he's done . Those that had been to Mikes house saw it hanging on the living room wall with it's part number tag on it . Painted black as it was a standard .

Originally Posted by swanwaco32

Jon Wright Custom Chrome Plating can do it in Grafton Ohio. 440 926 3116