Interesting site on how shiny "CHROME" is applied to dashboard parts...

In my quest to develop custom shift knobs for Prius cars, I happened upon this site on how the "CHROME" finish is deposited on the ABS plastic parts used in the air conditioner vent controls and other dash board knobs on radios and levers.

Custom Vacuum Metalizied Chrome Plastics and Custom Plastic Painting | Services | Muellercorp

The finish is really vacuum deposited aluminum.

That makes the solid aluminum 7075 aluminum knob one of the best items to complement the controls on the car.

Nice thing is that there is no plastic "lacquer" coating to wear off or the thin aluminum to wear from scratches made by jewelry.

While anodizing might make a more scratch resistant coating, when scratched, it too, like the "chrome" on plastic, is cheaper just to be replaced.