All, I'd like to redo the finish on this 1946 Philco 7050 tube tester. The plating is very thin and the brass or copper undercoating is showing. Is there a way to tell if this is nickel or chrome and is there a way I can do the plating myself? I only need to replate the top portion and I suspect a plating shop would want to strip the entire piece and that would destroy the lower portion. This tester works but since I have much better tube testers I'd like to make this a display piece.
Thanks,
Keith

I recommend you just clean it.

I second that. In order to have the finish restored, you would have to remove all the sockets and wiring (big job) and then send it out somewhere. This is not the sort of thing you can do at home. In the end it will cost hundreds of dollars and the tube tester really isn't worth all that much to begin with.

-Matthew

You might at least improve the appearance with brush-plated nickel, which I think could be done in place, if the panel were cleaned in acid to expose fresh brass. I would use sodium bisulfate solution just because I already have it, sold by jewelry suppliers for that purpose. Probably the plating supplier (Caswell?) sells something.