You are correct that Huret plating is terrible and durable.
Answers to your questions:
I don't know how to protect the Huret logo, but have you thought about carefully removing it? It seems to be held on by an adhesive, but I am not sure...
As far as plating goes, local shops I have asked about this do not have the capability nor interest for fine metal plating. Perhaps a jeweler can do this but would likely be hard to find one who does chrome at a reasonable price.
My suggestion is that you check out http://www.caswellplating.com because they offer do-it-yourself plating kits. One of the kits allows you to "brush on" and electroplate by hand that may work for you. Other CR members have commented on their products in the archives, but I have never used them. However, I did purchase their $24 plating books and could send you a scanned copy of several pages for a specific plating product and methods if you are interested...
Please consider that detaching the derailleur cage from the main body will cause your Huret derailleur to lose value in the eyes of some vintage collectors. I have performed this task on 2 damaged front derailleurs to make one good one many years ago. I started by carefully drilling the retainer bolt rivet and was able to detach the cage with no problem. The trick was to remove the spring with needlenose pliers, carefully round out the rivet press-in part and once this was removed, a center punch could be used to remove the rivet. Of. course, you would have to get a metric bold and screw to replace the original rivet-bolt.
I hope this helps...
Regards, Steve Neago
Cincinnati, OH
> Hi
>
> I have a fairly unused Huret Jubilee front derailleur. Sadly, the
> owner did not store it well, and although it hasn't seen much use, the
> chrome is bubbling everywhere on this mech, and the insides are quite
> rusty. Judging from the shift levers, I think Huret Chrome must be
> some of the worst chrome available ... and it needs rechroming.
>
> Unlike campagnolo, this front cage pivots on steel pins and not on
> aluminum pins.
>
> How can I rechrome this cage, which is riveted to the body ?? Here
> are some thoughts :
>
> (a) The cage has a very nice black and gold "huret" logo. I could
> mask off the logo (masking tape ? masking compound ?? hot wax ??)
> and also mask off the rest of the derailleur and de-plate it with my
> brush chroming set, then try to replate it.
>
> I'm a little apprehensive because my most recent brush chroming
> experience came out poorly. I rechromed a spidel/maillard skewer, and
> although it started out looking like a blackened krispy kritter from a
> fire, after several rounds of dremel wire brush and naval jelly and
> dunk-plating, it never developed any luster - just a dull silver
> finish. Either i didn't do it right, or my brush chroming set is
> wearing out.
>
> (b) Alternately, after all this masking, take it to the local chrome
> shop. I am thinking they may not want to dunk something full of wax
> or masking compound in their muriatic acid bath. everything on this
> mech is riveted together except perhaps the front half band, so it
> would be quite large. Also, the steel pins might be a problem.
>
> (c) If I take it to a machine shop can they drill out the pin and
> later make and install a new one ?? These pins, being steel, would be
> much tougher to drill than campagnolo and they seem to be
> better-finished than a campy pin (have a nice shiny dome). I would
> rather have a rusty cage than an obvious klugey pin replacement.
>
> Has anyone else done this ?? Thanx,
>
> - Don Gillies
> San Diego, CA