Grille Chrome on 1953 Series 62

HBergh · September 25th, 2009

I'm considering rechroming the grille on 1953 Cadillac, series 62. It appears that the original chrome did not completely cover the center and bottom horizontal sections connecting the vertical segments. In other words, the chrome looks like it only covers the front curved portions but not the inner flat portions. Is that if fact the way the grille was chromed? If it was, how was the inner flat portions finished? See attached picture for reference. Thanks for your help! Howard

keiser31 · September 25th, 2009

I think that I have seen them painted silver, but I have no idea if that was original.

K8096 · September 25th, 2009

The chrome on 1952 & 1953 Cadillac's was terrible - this was due to the Korean War rationing. Many of the pieces were originally sprayed with a clear laquer over the chrome that yellowed over time & eventually flaked off. This was meant to protect the chrome as it was put on very thin. It's possible the inner parts of the grille were not polished as highly as the outer parts, but I'd just chrome the whole thing. It's not that Cadillac didn't want to have good chrome on the whole thing, it's that they were rationing the materials that went into it so they got away with doing as little as possible. Your car must have been from the South, West, or if from the North was kept inside most of it's life as your chrome doesn't look to bad.

bobscads · September 26th, 2009

There was NO paint involved. It was all lousy Korean war chrome. In many cases, the factory didn't polish ares that didn't show as much as areas that did. When your plater does them, he will make all areas look good as he doesn't know what shows. BTW, the verticle teeth are flash chromed SS.HTH, Bob

HBergh · September 26th, 2009

Thanks everyone! BOBSCADS: Please define the letters "SS.HTH"

KEISER31: I didn't know you were a Cadillac man too. :-)

Howard

K8096 · September 27th, 2009

SS is stainless steel, HTH is hope this helps.

keiser31 · September 27th, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by HBergh

Thanks everyone! BOBSCADS: Please define the letters "SS.HTH"

KEISER31: I didn't know you were a Cadillac man too. :-)

Howard

Actually, I am an "old car" man. I like them all. I usually only purchase Chrysler products, but occasionally, an off brand makes it into my garage.
So...if a car comes with "Korean chrome" does the restorer have to copy that to make it original looking for the judges?

bobscads · September 27th, 2009

Yes they do. Actually some of the bad plating shops do it without you even asking! LOL. Bob

HBergh · September 27th, 2009

FYI, I did pick up this Cadillac on the west coast (Washington) but I don't know yet its life history to know where it has resided over the last 50 years. My "Korean" chrome is however evident in a few places--its like it has just been wiped off with too much polishing. Up to this time I've often wondered how this could have happened because chromium is a hard metal. Thanks of solving this mystery! HB