LCGB Forums

See the photos, Its an genuine Vigano embellisher on a series 2 horn casting. Should this be a better fit?

It has been recently re chromed and TBH I checked it for fit before it went and don't remember the big gaps at each side, they are about 10mm.

Has anyone ever had experience of embellishes changing shape whilst being re chromed? I ask because the blue front gem is a bad fit also, Its like the embellisher has expanded some how? Again I don't remember the blue gem being quite so loose.

Are remade gems available anywhere?

Chroming cant possibly change or expand metal objects, are you sure thats your emebellisher and it hasnt been swapped while at the chromers? Or..if it is yours has a lot of metal been removed during the polishing process pre chroming, the edges do look as though theyve had material removed and are not very even looking..

I don't know, but does the chroming process involve heat?

Not answering my own question just thinking aloud?

I've seen headsets and horn castings deform due to excessive heat used in powder coating. How these items are made, the pressure die casting process the structure is formed under pressure, when you heat them excessively it can de stress it and the shape can change. I've never seen it this uniform tho. The sx headset of mine it happened to looked like a shrunken head when it came back.

I would have to presume it's mine as the place is not a normal Lambretta type company, they specialise in classic cars. I have heard the horror stories of some who have sent original hard to get parts to "Scooter chromer" to have re made crap parts returned.

Chroming involves very minimal heat, only enough for chemical reactions but it is low and certainly wont deform metal, ali or otherwise. Personally id check that out against another genuine one (if you can) just to check a remade replica hasnt been sent back to you, its not unknown..

Edit- Lee geary is the expert on embellishers (wob8s68), send him a pm and ask if he can look it over for you.

Andy.