Jim,
Yes, that is chrome under the paint. However, those portions of the frame that are covered by paint were not polished prior to chroming, so don't be fooled into believing that the concealed chrome looks like the exposed chrome on your stays/blades/crown/head lugs.
There were a few Italian frame manufactures that tried to con us by touting the benefits of chroming the entire frame prior to finishing. I can't remember their explanation. I think it has a detrimental effect on the finishing aspects. Paint and primer has a much harder time adhering to a chrome surface, unless special prep work is done. The problem is that most of the frames were not prepped properly after the chroming process. Consequently, paint scratches easier, flakes off, rusts faster.
Some frames have a lot of exposed chrome, and it is easier just to dip the entire frame instead of just the exposed areas. Dipping the entire frame also eliminates transition lines. Your Basso is the perfect example because it probably has chromed stays/blades/crown/head lugs.
Marc Boral
Jim Hultman wrote:
> I've got a late eighties Basso SL painted blue with white panels, (Once
> belonged to Rory O'Reilly, I'm told). The Basso has plenty of scratches;
> under all of them I see chrome plate, or is it nickel? Anybody care to
> discuss the merits of plating, then painting? Seems redundant to me.
> Jim Hultman