What is "ALPACCA CHROM"?

[DianaGaleM]

I'm seeing pieces marked variously, "ALPACCA CHROM" or "CHROM ALPACCA." Some pieces look like stainless steel, others are obviously one metal plated over another (with one wearing off). I know what alpacca is, and I know what chrome/chromium is. I don't understand what the two nouns together mean. Is this chrome-plated alpaca? Chrome alloyed with alpaca?

One piece is an old ladle with the (post-1900) twins mark of the German company, "Zwilling."

[AG2012]

Hi,
It`s described in German as ``verchromte Alpacca`` (chrome plated). Compare with `` versilberte Alpacca`` (silver plated).
Besides,it cannot be chrome added to nickel silver alloy; there would be no layered metals of different composition. It was obviously made for practical reasons as described in advertisements; no polishing, rinsing only, resistant to organic acids.
Regards

[DianaGaleM]

Thank you. I had no idea flatware was ever chrome plated. It certainly sounds practical. Would chrome-plating make items "low end," or was it thought better than silver plate or stainless? It obviously didn't "catch on" because there doesn't seem to be much of it around.

And I wonder...

I posed a question about this tea set back in 2013:

http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 61&t=34548

Could it be chrome plated? How could I determine that it is?