Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderbird

[JohnG]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

I can't really say if they were over priced or not as I have never
had anything chromed before (it may be 5-10 yrs before I do again!).

My front bumper was somewhat damaged as was my grill. They straightened and unbent things so they looked brand new. All the
work was outstanding. The car looks 100% better as a result.

So it was alot of money but worth it in terms of appearance.
I did not compare prices with other shops as I wanted one that I
could drive to and seemed professional. I had one conversation with Casey and we came away assuming prices in OK were comparable to Nu-Chrome.

They do have more than one quality level you can get. What
they call "show chrome" is supposed to be totally flawless.
"Custom chome" is supposed to be one step below with very minor
flaws possibly occuring in a few places.

I went for the latter and can find virtually no flaws at all.

So price aside, which I am not able to intelligently comment on,
they are first rate. I have pix I can email if anyone is interested.

John

[Guest]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

>So price aside, which I am not able to intelligently comment
>on,
>they are first rate. I have pix I can email if anyone is
>interested.
>
> John

I'd love to see some before and after pictures.

[Guest]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

>My front bumper was somewhat damaged as was my grill. They
>straightened and unbent things so they looked brand new. All
>the
>work was outstanding. The car looks 100% better as a result.
>

John,

I meant to ask -- How much was the front, and did you have the rear done as well?

I was quoted $800 from Atlantic Plating just for the rear (they wouldn't touch the front), and that was without doing ANY repair work to the bumper (my rear bumper has a bend in the bottom middle -- Looks like someone tried to pull something with a hook attached to the bumper -- The front is slightly bent on one side).

[Alexander]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

I still have not gotten my tail light bezels back yet. They had some problems with the clear coat over the gold plating. I hope to have them back in my hands in a couple of weeks.

For some reason gold plating needs a clear coat. I had thought that gold does not oxidize easily. I would like a better explanation of why it needs a clear coat.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[tarps3]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

Alexander,

What have you been doing since March 9 when you sent them out? Did you have an extra set of bezels for the car in the meantime? Or have you just parked it while you wait?

One of your earlier posts in this thread said that Frankford Plating had "a good turnaround time". Four months seems a little long to me but I've never had this done before.

Is this typical time (even though you had something extra done) for rechroming these things? I want to get mine rechromed, but I need to start taking them off now so I can get 'em back by next year;-)

Casey
'60 hardtop

[Alexander]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

Yes, I gave the bezels in to be plated when I was at the Atlantic City show in February. Last time I used these platers, I got back the plated items in about 6 weeks. i think the gold plating caused the problem this time.

The time for plating in my experience is very variable. What I usually do is give used part to the platers and leave the original on the car until I get the plated item back.

Used pot metal items for the Squarebirds for the most part are cheap, since most are worn and pitted. I picked up a pair of waffle plates and tail light bezels at Carlisle for $20. These are what used for the plating.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[Guest]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

Alexander,

Talked with the metal finishing (plating room) guy at work today.

He said that gold should plate up pretty easy and look good, thinking that the clear coat is intended to provide protection to the plating.

He thought it is likely that the build (thickness)would be pretty light since it's gold and without the clear coat might un-necessarially wear and/or scratch.

He also said they likely would not use 24 carrot gold, but something less but this shouldn't affect appearance or plating quality.

[Alexander]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

Thanks for the info.

I am still waiting patiently for my bezels. Recently, I call every two weeks to ask on their progress.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[Alexander]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

I am told today that the gold tail light bezels will be shipped out today.

I will post pictures when I get them.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[Alexander]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

I still have not received my bezels. I am getting annoyed, and concerned that they are damaged or lost.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[tarps3]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

that has to be extremely annoying for you!

I get impatient when something takes longer than a week to get back to me.
You might tell the plater that there's a lot of us with '60 bezels watching how this turns out and we are not very encouraged by how they have treated you!
If they did lose them, they could have bought a pitted set off ebay and redone them many times over by now.

keep us posted!
Casey
'60 TBird hardtop (with slightly pitted bezels)

[Alexander]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

Too bad I cannot just PhotoShop my car to repair it cosmetically.

If you have things plated, you need to have patience. Three or four months is not unusual for a wait time. Seven months is a little long though.

Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top

[SandyBoy]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

I'd be a wild-man!! }>

[Guest]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

>Too bad I cannot just PhotoShop my car to repair it
>cosmetically.
>
>If you have things plated, you need to have patience. Three
>or four months is not unusual for a wait time. Seven months
>is a little long though.
>
Seven months??? I'd be spitting nails and burning up the phone lines by now!

[Alexander]

RE: Gold vs Silver Tail Light Bezels on a 1960 Thunderb

I talked with the plater today. I was told that the clear coat needed to be redone. I was told I would get the bezels no later than Wednesday.

http://www.ecardecals.com/Calvin_Holding_Breath.gif

holding my breath
Alexander
1959 Hardtop
1960 Golde Top