“You’d ask them to redo it and they’d get mad at you. “They would plate them and there would still be pits,” Bortz said. Parts would ferry back and forth between restorer and shop-the restorer yearning for perfect parts and the chrome plater eager to get the job done-with each party becoming more vexed with the process. Many had plated only new metal and were unaccustomed to working on parts that bore pits and wear. “They were commercial and their work didn’t have to be perfect,” Bortz said. Back in the ’50s and ’60s, the only choice generally was a commercial shop that could chrome plate car trim, but also plated faucets, residential door handles and the like. In his 50 years of vintage car collecting and sales, Joe Bortz of Chicago has seen restorers turn from their only option- general chrome shops-to automotive only shops. But where do you start your search? Actually, you start here because we recently talked with some experts to help you find the right shop for the job. If your car features an array of now pitted chrome, you no doubt want to restore those pieces to their former gleaming glory to complete your restoration project. And, furthermore, it’s more than likely that most restorers have never even witnessed a plating project in progress, so finding a competent chrome guy is a whole lot harder for them than discovering a good body & paint shop. But nothing sets off a vehicle like super-shiny, mirror-like chrome.Īnd this leads us to an important question: If you need to have some chrome plating done for your ride, how do you go about securing a good-and lasting-job?Īfter all, most restorers either paint their own cars to their liking or, if they’re not skilled in that aspect of the project, they know enough about painting to understand how to go about hiring a good painter.īut when it comes to chrome, hobbyists certainly wouldn’t have the necessary equipment to do the plating in their garage. Here’s How to Find the Right Pros.ĮVERYBODY APPRECIATES A good paint finish on a vintage car. You’ll also find them on Facebook and Instagram a website is currently under construction.Ma| By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Chances Are, You’ve Never Done Any Chrome Plating Yourself. They’re open every day of the week, call (234) 755-7004 for hours and information. You’ll find the 44 Chrome Shop at 10483 Main Street in Mantua (behind F & S Automotive). In support of the community, the new business raised $220 from a basket raffle the money will be given to the 4C’s food pantry in Mantua. With stocked items for exhausts, shifts, and lighting accessories 44 Chrome can also work with you to create custom pieces that help “make your truck pretty,” according to Michelle.Īt their open house event on Sunday, they welcomed customers, family and friends with food trucks and giveaways. The new shop caters to truck drivers seeking stock or custom accessories for their semis. In similar fashion, 44 Chrome Shop is also a family endeavor, with the Donley’s three sons joining the team with the Stebbins. Vicki joked, “I’m just here for the ride.” Rick continued, “When the opportunity arose to become a part of this new venture, we jumped at it.”īoth the Donleys and the Stebbins agreed that the trucking industry is like a large family. “It’s in your blood, you can’t get away from it,” he explained. Rick Donley was ‘born into the trucking industry’, followed his father into a career in trucking. Together with new partners (and former customers) Rick and Vicki Donley, 44 Chrome Shop is now open for business. (of F & S Transport) were making plans to open their own chrome shop. Given her knowledge of the trucking industry and the skills she had honed, it didn’t take long before she and her husband, Dean Stebbins Jr. ![]() While she left that position in January, she found that she missed her many customers who, over time, had become like family. ![]() One of the shop’s owners, Michelle Stebbins, has built a reputation in the industry, having worked in a chrome shop for 20 years. Mantua – A new chrome shop is open in Mantua, poised to serve a trucking client base from across the US, with easy access via the Ohio Turnpike and State Routes 44 and 82.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |