JustDave Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 I have both a 31 and a 32 devaux,I’ve noticed these both have nickel plating on the interior bright finish window risers inside door handles dash bezels and knobs etc,it seems awful late to be using nickel was there a reason for this or was it just cheaper for the manufacturer, thanks. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
54Coupe Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 Hudson used nickel on all the interior bright work clear up through 1947. I think nickel looks right on the inside of the cars of this era, and chrome is too flashy. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustDave Posted February 8, 2023 Author Share Posted February 8, 2023 I agree I believe nickel looks ideal on vintage car interior trim,sometimes chrome is a little to much 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 Buick used nickel inside and first used chrome outside in 1929. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted February 8, 2023 Share Posted February 8, 2023 I suspect they used nickel on interior fittings because it was cheaper and the parts did not need to be weatherproof. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted February 19, 2023 Share Posted February 19, 2023 Chrome plating used on exterior parts was called triple chrome. Copper, nickel, then chromium. It is possible to do a cheaper job with just nickel and no copper or chromium, sometimes called tea kettle chrome. It looks pretty good but is not weather proof and will soon rust if left outdoors. Chrome parts are often stamped of thin stainless steel and not chromed at all. Especially on cheaper cars. The more expensive cars got more cast white metal, chrome plated. The cheap stainless trim does not rust and can be easily polished, unlike the white metal parts that get pitted and cost a fortune to rechrome. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 8 hours ago, Rusty_OToole said: The cheap stainless trim ???? Stainless trim looks great for years and years and years. It is not cheap. Cheaper is aluminum stamped/extruded parts that are polished and coated. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 Many do not realize that chrome is actually clear. Its only purpose is to protect the underlying nickel from tarnishing. 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 I always tell clients "Don't complain too much about the cost of chrome plating. Be happy you can get it at any price". 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 1 hour ago, Restorer32 said: Many do not realize that chrome is actually clear. Its only purpose is to protect the underlying nickel from tarnishing. Also chrome is much harder than nickel so it does provide some protection from scratching etc. You cannot polish chrome. It's way too hard for that. Those who say they are polishing their chrome are actually just cleaning it very well. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bryankazmer Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 It also changes the color. Chrome has a bluish cast, nickel has a yellow cast. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzBob Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, Restorer32 said: Many do not realize that chrome is actually clear. Its only purpose is to protect the underlying nickel from tarnishing. Restorer32, If chrome is actually clear, why is there a color cast difference between a chrome plated part and a nickle plated part? If one compares a nickel plated part next to a chrome plated part, the nickel part will have a soft almost silver like appearance whereas the chrome part has a colder bluish appearance. Edited February 20, 2023 by AzBob (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 OK, maybe transparent would have been a better word. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted February 20, 2023 Share Posted February 20, 2023 Stainless trim is cheaper to make than plated cast white metal. But stainless is more durable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustDave Posted February 21, 2023 Author Share Posted February 21, 2023 Thanks everyone I was always curious if it was a cost cutter or if there was a good reason, thanks dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtflame Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 From what my Chromer tells me, Nickel is brighter and shinier before the chrome goes on. The chrome actually dulls the finish slightly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stude Light Posted February 23, 2023 Share Posted February 23, 2023 (edited) On 2/20/2023 at 7:08 AM, Restorer32 said: Many do not realize that chrome is actually clear. Its only purpose is to protect the underlying nickel from tarnishing. Just to add some clarification to the fact that chrome is not clear. Chrome, short for chromium, is an elemental metal which is kind of a steel gray. When you nickel-chrome plate something the layer of chromium is extremely thin…maybe measured in millionths of an inch which is why it is considered “clear”. That very thin layer, that you better described as translucent, does change the hue of the nickel substrate since you’ve added a small amount of that steel gray colored chromium metal on top. When something is hard chrome plated there is no nickel substrate and you get thousandths of an inch thickness of chromium which is a rather flat steel gray color and not very decorative. Summary- the actual “color” and finish you get from chrome plating is all about the thickness of the chromium layer. Edited February 23, 2023 by Stude Light (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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