Take some WD-40, spray it on the poor chrome, and rub / polish with aluminium foil. You will be amazed. Really crap chrome is revitalised. Just try it.
What, even when the chrome is lifting and very deep pitting? I used wire wool on my raleigh the other week and it came off great being just surface rust but the moulton bars are blistered and very rough but the bars and stem are not original to the bike anyways but i will try your methods if not, then no big deal as i have an alladins cave of retro bits at work i can look through.