Shiny and Chrome
A site called Chromeography collects chrome logos and typography from vintage cars & electric appliances. As I was looking through these, I wondered: “What the hell is chrome anyway?” So I looked it up:
Chrome plating (less commonly chromium plating) is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. A chrome plated part is called chrome, or is said to have been chromed. The chromium layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, facilitate cleaning, and increase surface hardness. Sometimes, a less expensive substitute for chrome, such as nickel may be used for aesthetic purposes.
(via @presentandcorrect)
Discussion 1 comment
One summer in high school I worked in the make-ready department of a Toyota dealership. You buy a car, we "make it ready" - bolt on running boards, upgrade the stereo, swap out the rims for something larger and shinier. Basically all of the upgrades we could possibly do to get an existing stock car off the lot.
My favorite "upgrade" was The Gold Package. The Gold Package was a dude named César rolling out a haphazard contraption - a crusty metal bucket of solution, some bent up red and black wires with alligator clips and sponges on the end, and a large car battery. He would spend 20 minutes "gold plating" all of the existing chrome logos and wordmarks on the car, and the dealer would charge you a couple of thousand for the privilege.
I would recommend never paying for the gold package.
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