no idea, but I think there are one or two models in the Raleigh catalogs of the early 70's (if memory serves).

I get the impression that cromovelato was something that was tried in a few areas or product lines, and then folks quickly learned that they just weren't durable enough. The technology isn't really a factor in when it appeared, I'm guessing. It's just the application of tinted clear lacquer over polished chrome. I think almost everyone with experience could have predicted that paint wasn't going to stick to polished chrome.

A variation on the theme is "candy" paint, or what Raleigh called "flamboyant" paint. This is tinted clear lacquer over a gold or silver base layer of paint. This provides an analogous reflective layer under the tinted lacquer, but at least the tinted lacquer can adhere to the base layer. It's a bit of a pain in terms of time and expense of production, though. I think the pearl or metallic paints provided a similar level of appeal from a single layer of paint.

I've only got a few pics of bikes with cromovelato paint. The nicest was a Magni that Mr. Barron displayed at a CR gathering a few years back:



The Magni's paint is distinctive even indoors, showing a reflective behavior.

by comparison, I've got a copper colored Raleigh International with "flamboyant" paint, and it is really only distinctive in full sunlight. That's when the gold base layer shines back through the paint.



to be honest, both look better in person. Moving your head around makes it clear how the light affects how it looks. It's quite different from just having glossy paint.
One thing that they both have in common is that they are nearly impossible touch up.

Steve in Peoria