Lacquer on chrome removal

[rkapteyn]

I found an interesting article about 1952/53 car production that mentioned that nickel was the metal that was in short supply.

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/cc-history-“that-special-time”-the-u-s-auto-industry-during-the-korean-war/

Robert Kapteyn

[studegary]

Wonder if any of those factory "care of chrome" cards survived ?

I have a NOS one of those cards for 1953. - Doesn't everyone <G>?

[rockne10]

... nickel was the metal that was in short supply.

Robert Kapteyn

Yes, I believe that, while the copper and chrome layers may have been thinned to save material, there was virtually no nickel used at all. That's why so many that still retain that chrome have that faint orange tint to them; it's the copper showing through.

[sochocki]

Lacquer thinner.

[S2Deluxe]

I bought the Klean Strip aircraft paint stripper and it worked perfectly on removal of the lacquer paint...

According to the factory service letter in post 11, it was enamel, not lacquer, that was used. I would suspect, whatever paint remover you have available locally, would certainly do the trick!

Mark

[rkapteyn]

If you remove the enamel coating from a N.O.S. part it will deteriorate soon.
Send it to a plater to get the correct nickel plating after stripping.

Robert Kapteyn

[Bob Bryant]

My 1951 Plymouth Cranbrook cnvt had a clear substance on the chrome, so I guess it was "Korean chrome." I added additional clear material on the grille and it seemed to stay in place without further deterioration. The wheel covers became ugly fast and I put on a set of OTC covers with louvers which was a big improvement. The white wall cleaner may have brought down the coating on the original wheel covers. I traded it in '55 when I returned from Germany and it still looked good and the dealer kept it for his son.