Andover Norton

Robhj said:

Metal under removed chrome strip is shiny pinkish tinge

Click to expand...

Generally, steel gets copper plated, then nickel plated, then chrome plated (sometimes, just nickel then chrome). Sounds like they were copper then chrome. I'm no chrome expert, the way it was explained to me 50 years ago, for chroming other than "hard chrome" it must be that way. I'm sure someone will correct me and say "that's only show chrome" or something similar.

I know that when you polish through good chrome, you find nickel and when you polish through that, you find copper and once you've done it you ask yourself "why were you so stupid?"

It's also possible that the nickel and chrome peeled away from the copper which would imply (to me) that the copper was not properly prepared. Keep in mind that the chrome is usually extremely thin - most of the shine comes from the nickel.

So, if you have a peeled piece, look at the back of it and look how thin.

An easy to understand site is: https://www.finishing.com/chrome.shtml

The copper is the “ filler” if you will - it can be built up and dressed off to produce a smooth finish in the manner that auto body fillers are used to produce a smooth base for paint.

marshg246 said:

An easy to understand site is: https://www.finishing.com/chrome.shtml

Click to expand...

Excellent article, thanks for the link.

Point taken - I shouldn't have gone that far. But "High quality at reasonable prices"? What makes you objective in defending what other posters (and private plater messagers) believe to be faulty? When did I every say it was easy? I think hiring a car to visit AN on the basis of their reputation, and paying what seems a reasonable price to experience what I did, gives me the right to report it, as did the poster below. Same criticism applies to him and the others? I have used other suppliers who were reliably consistent, and even the nails on my house build were of consistent quality.

"I am on my second set of chrome Blinker stems that I got from AN. The chrome is pitting and rusting in less than 6mths on the bike. The first set pealed off in under a year. I think I'll get them locally chromed rather than purchase new again. My Mirror stems also have started pitting and flaking in under a year of use also"

Greg, thanks for your extensive explanation and link. I will check out your site. Local plater Steve said something similar regarding nickel being absent. I'm no expert, so very non-technical view: the strip was extremely thin to the eye, and almost disappeared from view side-on, and I can't see that it had another layer on it. At the risk of being accused of OCD I will see if I can find it, or the photo I sent to AN.

I'm sure everyone here believes you have a right to be disappointed and even mad. I'm sure AN is also disappointed that they were screwed by a supplier.

I don't like upset customers bad mouthing me so I make sure I don't have upset customers, but that's not always good business. If you had bought from me, I would have made you happy some way even though it was not my fault and I would have lost significant money. But then, I don't make a living selling parts.

I don't know Joe Seifert and I don't know what role he plays other than providing funding and vision. Phil Albutt has been in charge since 2013 and is involved with sales and defers to Simon Amos on technical issues whenever I ask. On anything technical, I write Simon and ask for help or provide feedback - not complain. 100% of the time, I'm happy with the result.

BTW, I have no special "in" with AN. They publish the email address and phone numbers on their web site.

I am elated that AN exists and I'm not embarrassed to say it. I bought 9 rear fenders for a 67 Triumph 650 before I got one that fit. The Norton rear fender I bought from AN last year fit perfectly. In fact, I've bought well over $13,000 from AN and I have no complaints, including the MKIII frame I just bought.

About 25% of the posts I write here, I never submit. Those I do submit, I've read and reread hoping to 1) catch typos 2) make sense 3) not point a finger at anyone 4) and most importantly, when disagreeing with someone, do is a nicely as I can.

I agree that mine and other posters may well be outliers in our experiences, certainly compared to yours, and that I have gone too far. A lesson learnt. But it could have been avoided if I had a bit more curiosity from AN about their product deterioration, and less assumptions, such as poor bike condition. That and the salt-air rationale, plus expense of getting silencers chromed properly, gave me the right to be slightly peeved I think.

"slightly peeved". But of course!