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Electroplated Plastic with Chrome?

Is anyone familiar with the finishes used on vintage audio equipment? The various silver finishes used on knobs, etc.

William Monroe Norris
Mount Vernon Audio - Mount Vernon, Ohio
2003

I don't know exactly what years "vintage" implies in this context, but I would bet against it being "Electroplated Plastic with Chrome". My guess would be vacuum deposited aluminum with a clear lacquer.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.

A lot of "older" audio equipment was simply metal plated plastics. The plastics were usually ABS as it is easy to mould and to metallise. Furthermore, the metals used were mainly nickel, although I am quite prepared to accept that the upmarket ones were also chrome plated - I could never afford such upmarket items! You can get some very attractive finishes from bright, semi-bright, dull or satin nickels. I suspect that many such pieces were made before vacuum metallization really became a commercial viability.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2003

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