HI JOHN, IF YOU READ MY E-MAIL, FLASH PLATING WAS STARTED DURING THE WAR YEARS, SINCE IRON WAS ADDED TO THE STAINLESS, CREATING A MORE DURABLE FINISH. THE FLASH PLATING CONTINUED AFTER THE WARS, SINCE THEY CONSIDERED IT MORE DURABLE. ALL STAINLESS HUBCAPS WERE FLASH PLATED. IF YOU EVER POLISHED A HUBCAP, YOU WOULD REALIZE THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BURN THROUGH THE FLASH CHROME. IF THE FLASH CHROME WAS NOT THERE. IT WOULD POLISH IMMEDIATELY. THAT'S WHY IT'S EXPENSIVE TO POLISH THE HUBCAPS, IT'S THE TIME & LABOR INVOLVED. AN EASY WAY TO TELL IF IT'S FLASH PLATED, APPLY MOTHER'S METAL POLISH. IF THE RAG TURNS BLACK, NOT GRAY, IT'S NOT PLATED. POLISHED STAINLESS IS MUCH BRIGHTER THAN FLASH PLATING. THAT'S WHY IT'S SO POPULAR. I HOPE THIS HELPS. STEVE ESTOK, PUNTA GORDA, FL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] To send a message to this group, send an email to: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/