Thread: Nickel plated lever caps

I just had a quick look at Patrick's Blood & Gore. He doesn't mention finishes (at least, not in the bit I checked out).

Record, who copied Stanley very closely initially, nickel plated their lever caps from the start of production in 1931 until WW2 restrictions caused them to stop. During WW2 and up until about 1955 their lever caps were bare cast iron, or painted (not sure if that was a user mod.). From 1956 they chrome plated the lever caps (thanks to David of recordhandplanes.com for that info.).

I have a Stanley (USA) No.7 that dates back to 1929/30. Its lever cap is bare cast iron.

I hope this helps.

Cheers, Vann.