Gold plating/anodizing my 1952 caddy trunk V

[papas52cad]

Looking for any suggestions or recommendations from anyone who has recently had parts gold plated. I did a gold plating subject search here all are several years old.
Or if anyone knows who offer nice repros,
one plater I spoke to wants over $300 plus shipping.
Thank you
Peter

[walt chomosh #23510]

Peter,
  For my 55CDV, I used a shop near Dallas and am pleased with their speed and plating.....don't remember their name but they shouldn't be hard to find.....walt...tulsa,ok

[TomJudd]

I checked out platers for my 58. Was too expensive. Mc veys cadillac has new 24 carat, better than original, GM licensed vees . For 58 they are $380. NICE. Your year I think is cheaper. I also bought bezels and crests. Amazing quality.

[papas52cad]

Thank you
I looked at McVeys last week and did not find any V's I'll look again.
Peter

[papas52cad]

No 1952 v at McVeys, found a trunk 54-55 on OPgI, it looks the same but not sure if it will fit a 52, I don't hVe. Parts book to double check, if anyOne can help, many thanks

[Lexi]

Parts book says, well probably easier to see for yourself, as various models had different part numbers...See attached image. Clay/Lexi

[papas52cad]

Thank you, sadly no match, I'll keep looking, prices was good too!
Peter

[Lexi]

You are welcome. Looks like for '52 and '53, the Fleetwood 60 Special trunk V emblem stands alone. Not sure what the difference is. Clay/Lexi

[fishnjim]

If gold plating($300) is too expensive(but probably cheap at today's gold prices), then you'll have to look at gold anodizing or painting/finishing.   I'd expect anodizing would be less but not going to get for dirt cheap.
Could be DIY, if you obtain the solutions and equipment(DC power supply/tank) but commercial shops exist.
I'm not sure anyone has a comparable gold in powder coat that looks good because the finish is usually bright where the V is satin.   The spectrachrome people make stuff but you'd have to find a shop, as you're not going to do that yourself for <$300.
I'd look for a good used part.   
I don't mind mine being a little shabby, goes with the age of the car.   If you're restoring/showing then, it's another level.
This will be with the "sport" for some time so a resto solution, other than repop, is needed.

[papas52cad]

Thx, appreciate your comments, I am seeking a bright shiny gold finish which is what I have on mine ( front and rear) I know I am looking for perfect, mine right now is like 80-85%. Likely I will bight the bullet and spend the $300 to get what I want.
Thx again
Peter

[signart]

Bright & shiny is what you need, because that is the way the gold plate was originally on our Cadillacs. Anodizing is not shiny - more of a matt finish. I'm going to order some gold powder swatches and see if any of them comes close to gold plate and experiment. I saw a pair of  '57 V's done recently in translucent  gold over aluminum powder, looked pretty good colorwise, but had some orange peel when viewed up close.

[Caddy Wizard]

On 54 and 55, the hood and trunk Vs are a special alloy (brass or bronze -- Durilite?).  These can be polished to look as good as new without replating. You'd be amazed at the before and after pictures of one of these. This one in the picture was as dull and corroded as you can imagine.  Now it looks like it is gold plated -- but it is merely polished (by hand, not even on a machine).

Not sure if the 52 and 53 models also are made of the same material.  But I think so.  In 56, I think they are gold anodized, not gold plated or polished bronze or brass.

[Jon S]

Cadillac never gold plated the vee's but rather used gold anodizing

[Caddy Wizard]

Cadillac never gold plated the vee's but rather used gold anodizing

I think that is correct starting in 56.  For 52-55, I think the Vs were polished brass/bronze and clear coated for protection.  Not plated with gold.  When I first started working with mid-fifties Cadillacs about 30 years ago, i would often see remnants of the clear coat on the "gold" Vees of the 52-55 models.  I don't see that much any more.  Now the used ones I see are usually not wearing any of the clear coat any longer.


By the way, here is a bit more info on the material in the 52-55 Vees...
"Dirilyte appears to be gold plated but it is actually an alloy of a few metals, including bronze. It was made in this country from 1936 to 1986."

[Jon S]

Bright & shiny is what you need, because that is the way the gold plate was originally on our Cadillacs. Anodizing is not shiny - more of a matt finish. I'm going to order some gold powder swatches and see if any of them comes close to gold plate and experiment. I saw a pair of  '57 V's done recently in translucent  gold over aluminum powder, looked pretty good colorwise, but had some orange peel when viewed up close.

You say anodized is not shiny???  Here's a picture of my original 1958 anodized V:

[Lexi]

Interesting topic. I also thought anodizing could be either bright or shiny as well. My '56 "V" I always thought was anodized when new, and shiny, as were her gold Sabres (which still shine). Gold grilles that I have seen from this era I think were more of a matte finish. As Art reported the "V" itself does not appear to be made of brass or a related alloy on a '56, but if I recall correctly it is aluminum (or a cheaper metal alloy). I had no idea that Dirilyte was used in the production of some 1950s Cadillac V's. Clay/Lexi.

[fishnjim]

In order to gold anodize, the base metal needs to be able to form a surface oxide coating.  Mostly aluminum but other non-ferrous that form stable oxide films can be used.   So that is inherently, not that polished mirror finish.  What you see when you look at an aluminum door or window.   They modify the solution to cause the gold or other colors.   No gold is used.
Gold plating puts a thin electro-deposit of pure gold on a conductive metal substrate.   If the substrate is polished and the bright finish solution is used, then you'll get a mirror finish which is also protective.   Gold can also be plated matte.   They modify the bath to achieve the matte finish.   Pure gold is soft and can be worn off from polishing, etc.
I think there's confusion on this topic, as Art describes, there's no real documentation on what they used.  Lots of hearsay assumptions, because it was a Caddy - (gold) standard of the world.   You have to go to the original drawings/specifications to find out.   I don't know if GM has that or lets it out.   I've got drawings from other manufacturers for restoration.   GM seems to license that exclusively and wants $$.
In restos some have used gold, because it's easy, available, and gives a 'stately" look next to a dark color.   There was some gold plated ornamentation used in some special models.   My uncle had one, 70s or 80s with gold ornamentation.   I don't recall which model.  He sold it and is deceased.   Tony Zappone may shed some light on the early days.   Or someone that worked in the factory or elsewhere back then.
There's also gold looking alloys(aka poor man's gold).   Dirilite is one.   Most are used for wrist watches, etc. to give the faux gold appearance.    I recall reviewing patents and found Japan had the most in this at that time, more than 40 years ago.   Who wears a watch now?   
If you polish brass(copper&zinc), like the components, it will eventually dull.  It can be alloyed, tin, et al, to slow that process.   Clear coating can prolong the polished look but leaves a noticeable difference.    There's a bit of appearance difference between polished brass and bright gold.   But from 20+ feet, no one will notice.   Human's are attracted to shiny objects.
Some info on dirilite.   http://www.dirilyte.com/company-history/    Protectant wasn't used prior to 1961.   Doesn't mean someone didn't put it on later.   It'd likely be clear lacquer in this period.
It also possible to electro polish, so something like dirilite could be made to a mirror finish at time of manufacture.   It's possible they did something along that line to make these, if not machine polish.   Until someone obtains the drawings, it's up for continued speculation.

[Caddy Wizard]

Interesting topic. I also thought anodizing could be either bright or shiny as well. My '56 "V" I always thought was anodized when new, and shiny, as were her gold Sabres (which still shine). Gold grilles that I have seen from this era I think were more of a matte finish. As Art reported the "V" itself does not appear to be made of brass or a related alloy on a '56, but if I recall correctly it is aluminum (or a cheaper metal alloy). I had no idea that Dirilyte was used in the production of some 1950s Cadillac V's. Clay/Lexi.

If you turn over the Vs from 52-55 and look on the back, many of them will actually have the name "Dirilyte" cast into the V...

[papas52cad]

Lots of confusion and ideas on what caddy used, seems mine was previous
Y gold plated, has high shine...the back of mine has no info and I am told by the plated ( sports chrome in Houston that it's pot metal..
Here is a photo of mine before I sent for plating...
No matter what is historically correct, mine will look 100% and better than how I got it when I purchased my 52.
Appreciate all the comments and info, definitely an interesting subject that can be debated without Cadillac factory proof.
Peter

[Lexi]

By the way, here is a bit more info on the material in the 52-55 Vees...
"Dirilyte appears to be gold plated but it is actually an alloy of a few metals, including bronze.

Very interesting Art. Good to know. Clay/Lexi