Seeburg Wallbox V-3WA Chrome

Hello.

I assume the Seeburg Wallbox V-3WA's chrome was smooth and beautiful when new. It seems the vast majority of them have developed chrome problems such as pitting and flaking. Mine is no different. It still generally looks very nice however it suffers the same issues. Zillions of those pin-prick size pits. It looks wonderful in dim room lighting but not as good if illuminated well. Some of the chrome plating is missing where people flip the cards and the underling base metal has become somewhat rough.

Does anyone know what is the cause of the deterioration? I am thinking the chrome problem might be metal fatigue caused by differences in the case's exterior/exterior temperature? I mean to say... the warming case (Aluminum I guess) expands faster than its chrome plating? Just a guess really.

What ever the cause is, does anyone have tips how to preserve the chrome plating? The only things I can think of is to keep it clean and out of any temperature extremes such as direct sunlight.

Any other ideas?

Probably the best idea is to re-chrome it.

Thanks Ken.

My box isn't too bad. Usual pinhole pitting on much of it. I was mainly interested in ideas of what causes it to begin with, and how to preserve what it already has.

Try this new spray on chrome stuff that Jay Leno talks about here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-1cTpSZ1l8

Hi All,
There was a "discussion" of this stuff, somewhere, that I read--seems like it's the same old story--"Prep work" is the key to making this work fairly well--- Ron Rich

Steve

Oxidation is the cause of the pitting. I would suggest you use a good chrome polish to keep the elements in the air from making contact with the chrome surface. I use Maas on my 5 Seeburg W-O-Ms', but am sure there are many other good brands to polish and protect your chrome from further damage.

Best
Darrell

Ken Layton wrote:Try this new spray on chrome stuff that Jay Leno talks about here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-1cTpSZ1l8

I could see that process being very useful for things like ceiling grills -stuff the "General Mookery" doesn't get their hands on.

I can't see it holding up on things that get handled a lot.

Rob

Rob,
"the General Mookery" ??---do that be the brother of "Geppeto", or, maybe his couzin ?
Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:Rob,
"the General Mookery" ??---do that be the brother of "Geppeto", or, maybe his couzin ?
Ron Rich

"Geppeto Mookery". I like that. I may use it as a handle.

Rob