Victor Gold Plating

[need4art]

Hi All,
We my experiment using my local company for a gold finish was a total bomb. Waiting 8 months was not a problem but the finish really was...It was a no charge but now I have parts that look like they belong to a francophone and that ain't nice. He has done a good job on a lot of other things for me but this one was like a bad day...

I had seen Nashville plating mentioned in an earlier thread any comments about them or anyone else.

THx Abe

[Jerry B.]

I've had things nickel plated but never gold plated. That being said, I've always been under the impression that you have a choice of finishes ranging from dull, satin, to bright gold. I would always recommend taking a gold tone arm with a good original finish and asking the plater to match that finish. If you did that, you have every reason to be unhappy. Jerry B.

[JohnM]

I'm the one who recommended Nashville Plating. They're GOOD at it!

[bbphonoguy]

I have a Sellers kitchen table from the early 40's. The legs were quite a wreck when I bought it, which is, no doubt, why it was a bargain. I had a local company called "Tri State Plating and Polishing" redo the chrome plating, and they did a great job. It's a small, family run company; and you'll wait for your work, but if I can judge by this one experience, I can recommend them. They do gold, silver, nickel, and chrome.

[JohnM]

Where is Tri-State?

[Covah]

Is there an internet plating company you can recommend? Platers around here are too expensive and won't take small orders.

Thanks!

[bbphonoguy]

Where is Tri-State?

It's in Huntington, West Virginia.

[Henry]

If you have a music instrument repair shop near you, inquire what plating service they use. It is (or used to be) quite common for brass players to have their instrument mouthpieces gold plated; nickel plate was the standard for many years. I've had both done.

[Zeppy]

I have used Metro Plating, located in Kensington, MD. They did an EXCELLENT job. The one down side, they were not cheap...In fact, they were quite expensive, and that was some 5 years ago, before the price of gold went through the roof (I think it came to $400 to plate all the parts to the tone arm, the early round dial speed adjustment, a key, and two knobs). I can only cringe at the thought of what their prices may be now. But I guess you get what you pay for, and they matched the matte finish of the Victor gold plating perfectly.

http://www.metroplating.com/

[JerryVan]

Here's the deal on platers. There are ones that are very expensive and do excellent work and there are cheap ones that do cheap work. There really aren't any "in between" that I've found. Just depends on your spend level versus what you want for an end product.

Good plating, especially with a very specific finish effect, takes time & skill to prepare. The actual plating is almost of no consequence as far as cost. It's all in the prep. The other consideration with respect to pricing are the EPA regulations that platers must adhere to. Also, not inconsequential when it comes to cost.