Greg Arnold wrote:
>
> I have been looking at various 60s and early 70s Italian original finish
> frame sets, several have what is referred to as chromovelato (cromovelato)
> Finish. The archives do not have any references, and from what I can tell it
> seems to be a colored translucent top coat over a fully chromed frame, as
> there are several color variations. However, the Bianchi Centenario has a
> black finish that one source tells me is cromovelato, and another says is a
> black chrome (and very unstable with a tendency to 'melt' with age and
> weather into a messy finish) Is there a difference? Did/does chrome come in
> various colors?
>
> Can any of our astute frame restorers shed some light on this technique?
> Anyone have original bikes with this type of finish/paint? What frame
> builders used this? Any links to pics of frames with this finish? Is the
> Bianchi Centenario finish a victim of bad press?!
My '85 Bianchi Centenario (#00.227) has black chrome (black nickel) with clear polyurethane(?) over top. Black chrome is more delicate than chrome (easy to wear through when cleaning the bike) so I believe that's the reason for the clear coat.
I have noticed that the three Bianchis I bought new during the '80s have paint that gets tacky (very slight stickiness) over time. This is eliminated when I apply polish to the frame. I'm guessing that the there wasn't enough catalyst in the clear to make it hard?
Chuck Schmidt South Pasadena, Southern California
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