For what it's worth, for those in the South, I can thoroughly recommend Silvabronz in Alton. (http://www.beckworth.net/). They specialise in car plating and are very cost effective, even offering a "bangers and mash" service!

They did my Speedy plating some 20 years ago including ex Morris 8 steel headlamps, all of which are still good. They recently plated my Pearl windscreen and accessories. Beware though, they can have a very long waiting list at certain times of the year!

Location: Beautiful North Hampshire

I can also recommend Prestige Plating. It's a family run business and the owner is a classic car enthusiast. (Mrs Perkins makes a decent brew too!). They do a lot of vintage stuff and have a good reputation.

You might need an interpreter if you're not fluent in Barnsleyspeak though...

Location: Gard, France 30960

Back in the '60s I had some motorcycle springs chrome plated. I was advised to have 'blue' chrome.

Are there different types of chrome plating?

Location: Bedford

I've not heard of "blue" chrome plating as a process. However, chrome tends to have a blueish appearance in contrast to nickel, which is warmer in appearance. Nickel is similar to silver plating. Chrome will turn blue under heat. Exhaust headers that are chrome plated, will often turn blue(and yellowish) at the bends from the heat. I have heard of a thin layer of clear epoxy with color added being sprayed over the chrome for appearance. But the epoxy is not as hard as the chrome underneath and of course these parts can't be used in high heat applications. Having worked with resins a lot, there would need to be UV inhibitors in the epoxy, as epoxy can cloud and yellow over time.

Location: Seattle, Washington, USA