'57 Chevy Hood Latch

[ajochum]

I have just replaced an old defective hood latch on a friend's '57 Nomad. The replacement piece is nickel cadmium and designed beautifully. The long-ago replacement "receiver" that it locks onto is unpainted steel. He is a member of AACA and going for his Grand National Award, where everything must be "as original".
My question: Do any of you know if the "receiver" was originally cadmium plated to match the latch, bare steel, or perhaps painted a flat or gloss black.
Many thanks for your replies.

AJ

[chevynut]

If you're talking about the plate at the grille support I'm nearly 100% sure it wasn't painted or bare steel. I think it was cad plated like the latch.

[ajochum]

Thank you! Now if I can just find one done in cadmium. So far they've all been either chromed or steel. I have the Eastwood cad-plating paints and the results are excellent, but the latch will wear a mark in it the first time it is closed.