From:Steve Ciccalone e-mail:hensteveamc@aol.com
Subject:RE: All Plating for 1931 Date:Sat Jan 31 13:50:39 2009
Response to:2346
My two cents based on looking at nos parts. Schwinn as far as I have determined did not chrome their own parts. Chrome did not come into vogue with the automakers until around 1929. Ford chromed bumpers in 1928 but most of their other plated parts were nickel until mid-1929. I think the only chrome parts on the KJs were subcontractor supplied parts like the '31 headlight rings the horn faces and perhaps the light switch bezel. Keep in mind that there were probably no KJs built after 1 May 1931 so they wouldn't have moved toward chrome plating. I have a factory letter from that date that states "while we have ceased production of the Henderson, we will keep producing Super X's..." which they did until about July. We know that when production ceased, outside suppliers did make service parts for bikes (ala 18" black rims) so chrome parts made past '31 could exist. I have some nosr hardware that is cadmium plated. There is nothing in the last service letters that I have found or remember touting chrome, like Indian did but if there is Perry will point it out.

However, it is your bike so you can do what you want. Nickel is harder to maintain and not as serviceable. Thousands of Model A Ford owners have chrome plated their '28-29 headlights and radiator shells that were originally nickeled, much to the dismay of only the minority purists, nitpickers and blue ribbon point judges.

----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS -----
Heres the Question on a 1931 what is chrome what is nickle? I noticed my gas lines and outlets are nickle some other things are chrome. Example the headlight ring, if I want to plate my bars chrome or nickle?
Has anyone out there done a list of nickle verse chrome?
all imput from everyone would be great!