Speedster Emblems

[CarCrosswordDan]

Were Speedster, or any other, Studebaker emblems plated with Gold? Thanks, Dan

[Johnnywiffer]

In the late '50s, one of my fathers-in-law traded his '51 Land Cruiser for a Speedster that was formerly owned by someone who worked in the plating department of the W.A. Shaeffer Pen Co., in Ft. Madison IA. (http://www.sheaffer.com/about/timeline/)

This guy plated just about everything plateable on that car. Radio face plate, knobs, door and window handles, hood ornament. He either had something on the Prez or just flat stole LOTS of gold. But it was the only one I EVER saw like that.

John

[Chris_Dresbach]

Don't forget that there were many scripts done, and some elmblems. Scripts like "Cruiser", "Hawk", etc. And those little Lark bird emblems that go on the C pillars of Larks.

[klifton1]

Gold plating is soft and dosn't last long. You can polish it off. The gold on my Speedster is all plated but I don't use it as an every day driver. Originaly the gold trim was not plated.
Klif

[raoul5788]

The circle on the front of the quarter panel on a '54 coupe is gold plated. Also the Clipper wheel on the grill of a '57 Packard is gold plated.

[bezhawk]

The front fins on our Packard Hawks' turn signal lights were gold plated......and yes they quickly wore thru with normal washing.

[rockne10]

Are we talking "true gold" or something of a gold color?

[bezhawk]

Are we talking "true gold" or something of a gold color?

I was told they were true gold, but , the person telling me may have 'embellished'. I never did have them tested, nor tried to pawn them.

[Chris_Dresbach]

Are we talking "true gold" or something of a gold color?

Probably just a colored chrome like material. Even in 1955 dollars, it would have been cost prohibitive to use that much gold leaf.

[junior]

The circle on the front of the quarter panel on a '54 coupe is gold plated. .

I'm thinking they are plated in something other than gold, as I have 2 sets of these and they oxidize on a regular basis. I use Brasso to polish up the ones mounted on my car about once per year. The ones on the car have been replated at one time, but the original ones that came off the car are also oxidized and have never been replated...must not be gold. Regards, Junior.

[5brown1]

They might have been anodized.

[raoul5788]

I'm thinking they are plated in something other than gold, as I have 2 sets of these and they oxidize on a regular basis. I use Brasso to polish up the ones mounted on my car about once per year. The ones on the car have been replated at one time, but the original ones that came off the car are also oxidized and have never been replated...must not be gold. Regards, Junior.

Could be, I don't really know if it's gold or anodized. It's shiny, which is good enough for me!

[junior]

Could be, I don't really know if it's gold or anodized. It's shiny, which is good enough for me!

I feel the same way, I was just answering the original question posed in the first post...gold colored...yes, shiny...yes,real gold plating...not thinking so. regards, Junior

[SN-60]

If You do buy the repo 'gold plated' emblems, clearcoat them before the install. This will seal them from the elements, and the 'gold' will last much longer.

[Son O Lark]

1958 Hawk bird emblems were gold.