[odyssey]

Dan -

The stutz is a 1932 SV16 and a 1934 SV16. Both are in need of a lot of parts.
You can call Frankford plating at 215-288-4518. If you decide to use them, talk to John jr. and be sure you work out a delivery date with him. Then contact him every few weeks as the date approaches. This is a good technique for any plating shop, or sublet contractor.

Good Luck -

Tom Rasmussen

[guster67]

I would add a fourth concern regarding platers----honesty. I have used Frankford Plating in Philadelphia and have had a miserable experience. Not only was one piece shipped to me in unusable condition (void of plating in a critical area) but the job was strung out for weeks with constant claims that my order had been shipped. Despite numerous requests, postal tracking numbers were never given because they had never been shipped at all. I will never use Frankford Plating again based on the poor quality and dishonesty.

[simplyconnected]

I use a famous plater in Detroit who does lots of chrome plating for show cars, motorcycles, antique & classic cars, and hot rods. I love the job they did on my parts, and they didn't lose any parts. One of my tiny parts looks like a #10 washer (for my lighter).

Anyway, the owners were trained by their Italian father decades ago and it's still family-owned. They take tremendous pride in, and guarantee their work. Simply tell them what you want, and they do it. If something is not to your satisfaction, they will do it over, no arguement, for free.

Their Polishing Room is nearly as big as the Plating Room because this is REALLY true:

Originally Posted By: Mike Cullen

There are only 3 major concerns with platers: metal prep, metal preparation, and preparation of the metal!

I saw some parts they did for other customers and was shocked to learn, they polish everything... even stainless mouldings. So I had them do a few large pieces. What takes me HOURS to do, takes them ten minutes. Their finished parts look far better than the best I can do at home; they have industrial equipment and experienced polishers.

This is my experience and NOT an ad. I only know this company from doing business with them on my own classic car parts. I found out about them through one of the Woodward Dream Cruise clubs here, in Royal Oak, MI. If you would like the name or number of this plater, ask and I will post it.

[groscap]

Is there anyone in the midwest that still does electroless nickel plating? I used to use electroless on hardware that was not originally plated to give it corrosion resistance but not look unoriginal with bright nickel plating. I used to get it done somewhere in Denver, but since moving back to the midwest I haven't found any platers that still do it. I've been thinking about using one of the Caswell kits. Any have experience with them?

[simplyconnected]

Funny you should ask. I have a great room (kitchen, dining, and tv room) where I ran Lionel track around the ceiling. This is the regular 3-rail stuff we all know from the beginning of time. It's made from mild sheet steel, formed into rails, with ties staked in place, and it is brand new. Every time I see a kid pull his track out of the attic, it has nasty rust problems and his train won't run, which is exactly what I want to avoid.

KC Jones Plating took all my track (over 100 feet), and electroless nickel plated it for $50. I wanted a coating that wouldn't rust, but conducted electricity. It wasn't a bright finish, but it was brighter than the bare steel track. The kids love running the train, and all I do is dust it off periodically. It works real well.

I lead soldered the sections together using copper wire (so they won't come apart), and isolated corner 'zones' with resistors, to slow the train around corners. The feed wires run along side the track, hidden from view. Nickel plating solders easily.

Here's their address:
K C Jones Plating
248-399-8500
321 W 10 Mile Rd,
Hazel Park, MI 48030

[sldan]

I would like the name of the famous plater you referenced.

We will be attending the Greenfield Village car festival next week end and you would like to pay the plater a visit.

Thanks