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question: nickel vs chrome Last viewed: 2 hours ago

Posts: 538 Threads: 84

my questions are about nickel drum parts. i never thought about it til last night.

- was nickel hdwr the norm up until a certain time frame (guessing early

50's?) , and is that when chroming started or was chrome around during the time of nickel hdwr. and if so, why didn't everyone just use chome on parts instead of nickel? my only reference to this is on cars of the period. i don't recall ever seeing chrome bumpers from the 40's.

- is...or was nickel a plating process and the only way to coat bare metal back then?

http://www.drummerfish.weebly.com for drum parts, drum promos , swag, promo media and more for sale
Posted on 13 years ago
#1
Posts: 431 Threads: 25

In my understanding, chrome is optional. On the '49 Ludwig catalog, chrome is + $8. You can see the many examples.

Posted on 13 years ago
#2
Posts: 977 Threads: 124

Believe that CHROME was the new thing late 50's ? & was a more expensive option over nickle hardware -

Hobbs

Posted on 13 years ago
#3
Posts: 5227 Threads: 555

If i re-call right Chrome was offered all the way back to the late 20's on drums back then Nickel,brass or gold plate was offered too.You would have to pay more for all three of these finish's brass,gold plate,chrome..Nickel was the cheapest..Nickel was over by the mid 60's...Mikey

Posted on 13 years ago
#4
Posts: 538 Threads: 84

thanks for the info.

for example, i've never seen a ludwig club date with chrome hdwr...only nickel. so i figured it would be standard for the drum industry til the 50's.

http://www.drummerfish.weebly.com for drum parts, drum promos , swag, promo media and more for sale
Posted on 13 years ago
#5
Posts: 1819 Threads: 153

In Ludwig's 1964 catalog, Club Date sets were available in your choice of nickel or chrome harware. That option was no longer available in the 1967 catalog...

I've found/detailed/resold 2 Club Dates sets this year with chrome hardware, and have a nickel one right now.

For Pics, see http://www.vintagedrumforum.com/showthread.php?t=25972

Bill

Bill
Cherryvale, Ks
"Redrums - Ks" on FB and Reverb
(also "billnvick" on eBay)
Posted on 13 years ago
#6
Posts: 179 Threads: 2

Just FYI- Chrome is the third step in the "triple-plating" process. the first is copper, second is nickel. The chrome costs more due to the added labor and materials. Polished nickel and chrome also look way different. Nickel looks warmer. Chrome looks cooler (in more ways than one).

JR Frondelli
www.frondelli.com
www.dbmproaudio.com

Mediocre is the new "good"
Posted on 13 years ago
#7
Posts: 6170 Threads: 255

there were plenty of clubdates made with chrome hardware. ive got a set.

mike

Posted on 13 years ago
#8
Posts: 1334 Threads: 235

Chrome was introduced in 1929...L&L first showed the catalog option for chrome in 1929-30...I like to think that nickel has a gold-ish hue whereas chrome has a blue-ish hue...A little hint that may help someone looking for hard to find parts in chrome...just take your chrome part(s) to your local plater and they can strip (safely) the chrome off which brings you to the nickel plating.

Mike Curotto

Posted on 13 years ago
#9
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