Re: [Harp-L] Re: reedplate covers

[BiscuitBoy714@xxxxxxx]

I don't mean  to intrude here, but I have some info on plating metal. I 
plated metal for about  10 years and at the last 5 I was a chrome platter. Just 
about anything that has  shiny chrome on it has nickel underneath. They do that 
as a matter of course.  You start out with steel cleaned to the max and give it 
a copper strike (dull  copper, very fast plating) for about 15 to 30 seconds 
depending on the  application, and then it gets nickel for about 10 to 15 
minutes and then chrome.  It's almost impossible to just put chrome on steel and 
have it come out looking  good. The shops are all set up with nickel right 
there so it's not really that  more expensive. There may be a new method that I'm 
not aware of, I quit plating  in 2001, but I'd say it would be more expensive 
then the old method just because  it is new.
 
     Hope this helps.
         Randy
    BiscuitBoy Blues
 
In a message dated 10/31/2007 10:36:09 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
payneoutdoors@xxxxxxxxx writes:

Glenn,  

All the old Hohners I've seen  from the 1930s  up until a few years ago used 
nickel-plated steel, it was a thin plate of  nickel alloy and doesn't always 
keep the steel from rusting. As far as I know,  they are using chromium plated 
steel now. I've got one Marine Band from around  2000, I actually removed all 
the plating and polished the steel. I don't doubt  that some are brass, but 
I've not seen a Hohner or every day run of the mill  harp that didn't have a 
steel coverplate. I'm assuming, and only assuming,  that nickel plating steel was 
a cheaper way to make a harp that didn't rust  inside the box. Victorinox has 
been making stainless steel since the first  Marine Bands, so it definitely 
was available to Hohner, but likely far cheaper  for Hohner to use nickel 
alloy, but I have no idea what all is in that alloy.  I doubt its anything close to 
pure nickel. The prewar Seydels I've seen also  appear to be made out of the 
same stuff. 
Keep in mind, my  experience is all with German harps and to some extent, 
U.S.-made harps.  

Dave Payne Sr. 








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