CS1 chrome plating

Previously wrote:

Hello All

I am in the process of restoring a 1938 CS1. Can anyone recommend a plating company that can refinish fasteners & fittings in the correct satin or dull chrome that Norton originally used? It seems to have the unusual properties of being thin enough to not interfere with thread and other tolerences, and not flake off when a spanner was applied, yet gave good corrosion resistance.

I am also agonising whether or not to have the tanks re-chromed! The metal is good, and dent-free, but obviously irreplaceable if over polished. Has anyone used a company that understands the problems and has come up with near perfect results on chrome plating petrol & oil tanks?

Finally, has anyone ever seen any magazines or books with detailed original photographs of a CS1 around this year, asI am trying to get the restoration as original as possible. I have got the usual re-prints of parts list & catalogues, but the catalogue pictures, (drawings?) don't show fine details.

Thanks very much

Roger Hainsworth

hello the guy you need is Carl Russel at Quality Chrome and he as a web site www.qualitychrome.co.uk this guy its the best in Chrome plating ? Hope this Helps

I had a couple of fairly expensive disasters with Dull Chrome and learned the hard way that many chromers intermix the terms 'dull chrome' and 'satin chrome' and always say they can do it but these are not the same thing. Modern 'satin chrome' is actually quite smooth, although not as reflective as bright chrome. Unfortunately chromers won't generally talk about the processes.

I suspect but haven't been able to confirm that the solutions differ for dull chrome and that inevitably those used at the time would have been chromium-6 solutions and this has now been outlawed by the EU. With the low demand for dull, they probably haven't researched new ways of achieving the exact finish.

Ken McIntosh in New Zealand (McIntosh Manx) makes very nice dull chromed fasteners and some other parts and his finish is indistinguishable from undamaged period originals. It occurs to me that perhaps the laws are different there.

The best finish that I have obtained in the UK was from Collins Chemical Blacking in South London. They did a brake pedal for me that I'm very pleased with.

I would recommend that if you're as intent on accuracy as you sound, you go along to a chromer with an original sample and ask to see what they can do. It might avoid expensive disappointment and we're all a bit vulnerable when not satisfied with chromers as we HAVE to have our bits back.

Roger,

In addition to Nortons specifically, dull chrome was quite widely used on War Department machines during the early part of the war, including silencers etc. There is no doubt that blasted stainless can give a fairly close effect and it's sometimes possible to very gently blast bright chrome (but it doesn't always work). If you want to see some blasted stainless, have a search on the WM20 forum.

One of the problems with Nortons of course is that they seem to have used special fasteners for everything. If your search for authenticity leads you to have the screws with 'inclusive' washers re-made, can you put me down for a box please ?

You're right about Paul Norman's site, and a nice chap to deal with.

Rich

ps I'll happily mail you some photos of a few bits of chromework but I've given up trying to post photos on here.

Previously wrote:

Thanks Richard

B****y EU strikes again!

I will check out Ken McIntosh & Collins, & a good idea to try some chrome samples. IfI don't get anywherewith the chrome I will trystainless steel. Ithough toexperiment with polishing then trying different bead and other media in my blast cabinet to see if the satin finish can be replicated.

While on the subject of stainless, anyone with a cammy Norton should check out Paul Norman's brilliant web site www.racingvincent.co.ukA big range of stainless special components & fasteners for OHC engines, plus a lot of other parts. Also, very detailed instructions, with tips & photo's, on rebuilding cammy engines.

Hi

By coincidence the conversation at work today came round to chrome plating tanks. There may be another option, spray on chrome. It is a 3 layer process - base coat, metallic layer, then protective top coat. It would not require aggressive polishing and could be applied to a tank with filled dents. I have no experience of using this, don't know if anyone is offering the service in the UK, or how expensive it is compared to conventional plating. Might also be a bit too bling for our bikes - just look at some of the photos on the website. http://www.sprayonchrome.com/techdata.html

Just a thought

Ian McD

Hi Roger,

Just spotted this thread - and by the way, thank you for your very kind words, and from Rich Payne as well.

Again, on the subject of dull nickel plating, which was Norton's favourite fastener finish, I too have struggled to find people who will do it any more - health and safety and all that, however, the last company I did have it done with were a specialist company called S&T Plating in Bristol. They are most definitely not cheap, but the quality was brilliant, best I have ever seen, and particularly their chrome plating was exceptional, crisp edges, no polishing off of writing, each part individually wrapped. For those special restorations, these guys are worth using.

By the way, I have found one of the best tips when sending parts off for dull nickel, is to ensure you do as much of the de-rusting and cleaning up of bolt heads yourself - particularly getting good crisp edges. The problem used to be with platers, is that they just used to dip and degrease dull nickel parts and throw them into the nickelling bath - it used to be quite cheap - quite often you would pay by weight, but you get what you pay for!

Best wishes,

Paul Norman

www.racingvincent.co.uk

Previously wrote:

Hello All

I am in the process of restoring a 1938 CS1. Can anyone recommend a plating company that can refinish fasteners & fittings in the correct satin or dull chrome that Norton originally used? It seems to have the unusual properties of being thin enough to not interfere with thread and other tolerences, and not flake off when a spanner was applied, yet gave good corrosion resistance.

I am also agonising whether or not to have the tanks re-chromed! The metal is good, and dent-free, but obviously irreplaceable if over polished. Has anyone used a company that understands the problems and has come up with near perfect results on chrome plating petrol & oil tanks?

Finally, has anyone ever seen any magazines or books with detailed original photographs of a CS1 around this year, asI am trying to get the restoration as original as possible. I have got the usual re-prints of parts list & catalogues, but the catalogue pictures, (drawings?) don't show fine details.

Thanks very much

Roger Hainsworth