Re-chrome or NOS

It probably depends on your goal for the car.

Sometimes what we find as "NOS" today are parts that were rejected during assembly, and then became service parts for the repair industry.

That can mean that an NOS part may actually be less than perfect in its fit and finish.

However, usually an NOS factory part is either a really good replacement for an otherwise pitted or broken part, or an excellent core for restoration such as chrome plating.

If you're looking for show quality, you'll probably have to send out the NOS piece for re-plating, too, and then you have the expenditure of purchase price AND replating costs.

Thanks Tim.

I was starting to realize, that I would probably be better off just sending my parts off to get new chrome.

So, do i send my bumpers to the same folks I send the smaller parts to or am I better off using a large bumper company and find some else for the small parts?

Thanks.

Darin

Darin,
Having recently had a replate on the rear bumper of my 1947/42 coupe, I can state that because of EPA regulations on the industry, it can be really, really expensive! A lot depends upon whether you are looking to show or just cruise your DeSoto.
I have found that many if not most NOS parts will exhibit various degrees of "shelf wear" but would suffice for a "driver" but not a "show dog".
While I'm at it, I noticed in the photos of your coupe, that the mating edges of your rear fenders show a lot of "metal-mite" damage. A couple of years ago, I purchased a pair of '51 fenders that I was contemplating using to create extended rear fenders to accomodate a continental kit on my '47/'42 coupe project. As you'll see in the attached photo (if I can figure out how to attach it), we decided to stay with the original fenders.
Long story, short, the '51 fenders are available if you are interested. I'm in Mason, Ohio so shipping would be a consideration but I'm planning on attending the 3D picnic on 8/13 in Chagrin Falls, OH. so we could hook up there if it's convenient.
Otherwise, I've found that Greyhound is the most economical way to ship larger items.

Darin;

I would consider it more convenient to be able to send all my plating to the same place, but as it is, my plater doesn't have tanks big enough to do full size one piece bumpers, so I have to send the bumpers out to someone else.

Being in the midwest, I use Performance Plating in Olathe, KS (suburb of KC) for everything but the large bumpers. For our '56 Dodge project, I used Keystone for the large bumpers. Oddly, I haven't unwrapped them yet to see how they did.