Antique car restorers who have vehicles from the 'teens and early
'20s frequently encounter the need for restoration of spun brass parts,
particularly headlight shells and bezels.  One problem with these spun
parts is that they often have radial cracks.  This is the nature of old
spun brass parts.

Assuming that the musical box cover in question is in good condition,
even though dented, I would suggest that a good plating company who is
familiar with antique car parts should be sought.  I would think a copy
of Hemmings Motor News, if they are still publishing, or a Google
search would provide a source for repair and replating.

There are numerous plating companies, although stricter pollution laws
have driven many out of business.  About 10 years ago I used a reliable
company in Syracuse, New York; the name escapes me.  He did all the
plating for the vehicles at the antique car museum in Norwich, New York.
Perhaps one of our readers in that area could enlighten us.

Chrome plating starts with buffing and polishing the base metal,
followed by a very thin flash coating of nickel, followed by chrome.
The best plating jobs add a thick layer of copper to the base metal,
followed by another polishing step before the nickel.  Of course, the
part in question would stop after the nickel.  Prior to the late '20s
or so, all plated auto parts were nickel.

Never having repaired spun brass parts myself, I can only speak from
general knowledge of antique cars, but removing dents may be the most
problematic part of this restoration.  Dents stretch the metal, and
the dents cannot just be hammered out.

Work hardening of the metal is another factor to consider.  Perhaps
someone who does metal spinning could provide a more cost effective
alternative to repair of the existing part.  A mandrel could be easily
fabricated using the existing part as a pattern.

Tom Rosenbusch