Recommendations for chrome / nickel platers

[John Bennett]

Dear all, any recommendations for platers? Nickel and Chrome. Ideally Essex, Berks or near the M25 (prefer to deliver in person!)

For 1931, I assume most plated bits are nickel except for the exhaust in chrome?

Many thanks in advance!

John

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

I’ve said all this before, and the generally accepted date for the transition from nickel to chrome is 1930, BUT it ain’t that simple because Scott’s suppliers were using chrome piecemeal before then. For instance the damper star washers and links on Webb forks, some Binks Three-Jet carburettor parts, Andre damper bits, and so on. Another issue is that the factory would use remaining stocks of nickel plated stuff years later ! I don’t like the look of a mixture of nickel and chrome, and a ‘concours’ judge not familiar with Scotts could well turn up his/her nose at the mix.

Radiators are another matter ! I wish I knew when they changed to chrome, certainly well after 1930….
Brian

[Orgasmatron]

Mellows Eaton in Crawley (Surrey) did all the polishing and nickel plating on my TT Rep (exhaust, silencer, levers, rods, nuts, bolts and more).
Very nice people to deal with and not expensive.
Recommended.
Chris.

[John Bennett]

Hi Brian, Thanks for the guidance. I’ve got a lovely nickel rad and a few other bits, so inclined to stay with that, but do see a lot of chrome exhausts – is that people gilding the lily during restoration?

Hi Chris, thanks for the recommendation. As you can tell, progress has been slower than I’d hoped, but now very much into getting finishes applied, so hope to be on the road next spring (I also said that last year!).

Cheers
John

[BRIAN MARSHALL]

Hi John, Yes a lot of chrome exhausts are seen on vintage Scotts where they should be nickel. For many years the only replacement exhausts were coming from Armours in Bournemouth, and they were all chrome, and being siamesed R/H pipes they really should not be on anything before 1935. TT Reps and Sprint Specials were mostly 2″ L/H siamesed pipes. Another issue is that chrome exhaust pipes are easier to care for than nickel ones, and that has influenced people’s choices.
Brian

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