David Bilenky wrote:
> I'd guess that the chrome has been worn off (or was never chrome plated)
> and
> what you've got left is the nickel plate. My chrome '65 Frejus is the same
> around the BB shell, you can polish quite continuously and come away with
> a
> black cloth. The nickel plating is more yellow than chrome. Is there a
> difference in the colour of the lower fork vs. the crown?
My frame seems to fit the initial description of Pete Guerds, where the chrome itself has turned white. It does not become glossy even with heavy buffing with fine steel wool, suggesting it's actually a hard metal there. Simichrome produces a deep black deposit readily to the cloth and, VIOLA, the chrome brightens, if it's chrome, anyway. This appears to solve my dilemma for the moment, that is, if the "chrome" remains bright. Wow, this is gonna be a good lookin' bike. Lots of work to go, I'd love to at least be able to ride it next weekend, but, lots o' work, 12-14 hours easy.
I have a Windsor Pro which is entirely chromed but for the bb shell, which has only nickel plating (quite yellowish) and responds readily to the Simichrome, becoming bright and matching the rest of the frame. It requires a polish every now and then to clear the yellow. The Raleigh's chromed stays have not a hint of yellow but a white haze. A hard white oxide, perhaps? Luckily only a very slight speckling of rust. I suspect this frame may have had some slightly corrosive cleaner applied 20 years ago with nary the wipe of a cloth since then. Maybe just corrosive dusts. I was surprised that chrome would make such a black oxide from Simichrome on the rag, but as an experiment I just tried the same stuff on the thick chrome of a clean Craftsman wrench. Sure enough, the rag blackens.
Thanks to all for the input! My frame's starting to shine already. I hope it lasts, but won't be surprised now if it doesn't. The forks, btw, responded well to just the steel wool, like chrome always has for me in the past. Took 5 minutes. Funny that the "chrome" on the stays shows no yellow, but a few very small scraped areas along the outside do show distinct yellowing. The crown has large central areas with a slight goldish hue, definitely not chrome. I'm guessing maybe some odd white oxides have obscured any yellowing on the stays. I wonder how many quick polishings would take all the nickel off? Chrome platers must have been in a hurry.
David Snyder
Now in Auburn, CA, USA