Bar stools, trim on the bar and tables and even exterior features on the building were often chrome. Picture a mid-century diner, for instance.
Cars, bicycles and motorcycles, among other products, started rolling onto the market with sleek chrome parts.ĭuring World War II, the use of metals like chrome was partly put on hold, but after the war, it resumed in full force. In fact, the French government created a Center of Information on Hard Chromium just after the war, which gave the world a comprehensive textbook on the topic in 1952.Ĭhrome was a common design feature of many objects in the 1950s. Chrome could be applied to nearly anything to improve its appearance and durability.
It’s no wonder manufacturers and consumers embraced chromium plating - or, as it came to be known, simply - chrome. How Chrome Plating Has Changed Over the Years Chromium plating’s popularity took off rapidly. When something was chrome, consumers knew it would have a shiny, sleek appearance and would be more durable with greater corrosion resistance. It’s clear to see these early companies had high hopes for the success of chromium plating, and they were right. Following some patent interferences, the Chromium Corporation of America merged with a new company, General Chromium Corporation, and formed United Chromium, Incorporated in 1927. These two companies quickly merged, forming the Chromium Corporation of America. His studies led to Colin Fink and Charles Eldridge developing a commercial process for chromium plating in the following decade.īy the mid-1920s, there were two companies advertising their chromium plating services: The Chemical Treatment Company in New York and the Chromium Products Corporation in New Jersey. Sargent, who earned his doctorate degree in 1912 by studying chromium deposition. One of the pioneers of chromium plating was George J. While the idea of electroplating in general was developed in the early 19th century, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that chromium plating began. In addition to gold, other types of metal plating, like nickel plating, became popular. It quickly became a popular way of creating jewelry, relics and more that appeared extremely valuable but were affordable to broader populations. Electroplating did not begin to be widely used until it was rediscovered a few decades later. One concern, held by Napoleon Bonaparte, was that lower classes would be able to use the process to have gold-plated belongings. A Voltaic pile was the first electrical battery that was able to provide uninterrupted electricity to a circuit.īrugnatelli shared his findings in 1805 in a Belgian scientific journal, but the scientific community did not embrace this discovery. An Italian chemist named Luigi Brugnatelli discovered that submerging metallic objects into a solution of dissolved gold and applying a charge with a Voltaic pile caused the gold to cover the surface of the objects. Decorative Chrome Platingīefore we learn when chrome plating was invented, we have to go all the way back to the early 19th century, when electroplating was first discovered. Explore the Rest of Our Hard Chrome Plating Guide: Let’s take some time to look back and learn more about who invented chrome plating and how the plating process has evolved over time. It’s no wonder chrome plating is a popular process.
This layer can transform a product, both aesthetically and functionally. Most chrome products aren’t actually made of chrome all the way through - they are electroplated with a layer of chrome. Manufacturers may think of chrome as a lifesaver for making their products stronger and more durable. It stirs up images of sleek, shiny, reflective metal that always looks new. What do you picture when you hear the word “chrome”? For most people, chrome is a very positive word.