bumper finish

All Model A Bumpers from the beginning in 1927 thru end of production in 1932 were Chrome.

As a added note the plating process was what we call today triple plating: copper, nickel, then chrome.

Ron
 
Also, only the front side was ground and polished, so the back side, and both the top and bottom edges were rough raw steel, plated of course.
 
There is a critical tidbit left.

The nickel plating at the time was a dull nickel. That is after the tank the nickel needed to be buffed before going to the chrome tank. Only the front was buffed leaving dull grey on the back and edges.

Decorative chrome plating is basically a clear coat that adds a blue hue.

So if you want the original look you have to find a plater with a dull nickel tank and that knows how to chrome over it.

FWIW, the bright nickel process uses oxidizers. For items that are just nickel plated you are better off with the dull nickel. You go a lot longer between polishing the tarnished nickel.
 
The rear sides of the bumper bars near the eyes on the bumper ends don't take the plating too well, so they get touched up with silver spray paint. I did the insides of my 1950 Studebaker bumper horns by sandblasting the rust where the plating didn't take, then painting them with Rustoleum chrome paint. That worked great........almost like real chrome.
 
On original "A" front and rear bumpers when the nickel was buffed only the face and part way around ends got buffed, that is why the edges, back and part way around the ends, end up bright chrome. those areas, although dull actually have a coat of chrome. When you chrome on a dull surface you end up dull !!!

Ron
 
Images of NOS bumper, you can see the finish on the back, sides and front pretty clearly
 

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Can anyone recommend a chrome plater that can replate a bumper so it meets fine point judging guidelines?
 
I had the bumpers on my current restoration chrome plated in Mexico,(cheap). They did both sides and the edges. I used a oscillating sander with a 220 grit pad to dull the back side and edges. Probably not judging perfect, but they look good to me.
 
Here's what the Rustoleum chrome paint looks like after sandblasting the light coat of rust, and giving it two coats of paint. This would also be good for the complete bumper if you didn't want to pay for a correct chrome plating at this time.
 

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I had the bumpers rechromed for my 46 coupe and before I sent them to the platters I sand blasted the back sides. They came back with a nice clean but kinda dull finish. I had them done once before and the back sides were all flaky when they came back. They were rechromed but the same people both times. By the way the rechroming cost me nothing both times. My bumper supplier did it both times free and they have a life time warranty but not sure how good that would be today and not even sure they rechrome bumpers now.
 
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