Classic & Vintage - Help with Schwinn Super Sport (1981)

I was cleaning my Super Sport this evening, and noticed that there were a couple of nicks in the paint on the forks and the chainstays. It looks like there's chrome underneath; the ends are chromed and I was wondering how far it might extend, and if it's worth stripping the paint. Any Schwinn experts care to comment? Scooper? anyone?

Thanks in advance -

- Wil

Here are some pics:

you should try posting at the schwinn forums on schwinn's site. Those guys seem to answer pretty fast.

Will,

While there might be quite a bit of chrome under the paint, Schwinn just polished the steel to the point it was good enough to receive chrome plating, only in the areas they wanted to show. Now if I remember your SS was made in Japan (by Panasonic?). They might have chromed differently. Wonderful riding weather here in NH, eh?

Chip it lightly under the top tube or BB, where it would not be noticed that much. That's the only way
to know for sure. If I had a Schwinn that was all chrome under the paint, you bet the paint would be gone, lol. Well, maybe not if it was a super collectable model, I would be tempted though. It could possibly be just the stays and forks. but you never know unless you try.,,,,BD

Pastor Bob's reply is right on. While the chrome may extend into the painted areas of the stays, it's quite likely the steel surface under those painted areas wasn't adequately polished for the chrome plating to look good enough for a plain chrome finish. The reason for extending the plating is to provide a clean transition between the chromed part of the stays and the painted area.