Gold Plated Strings?

[Sy Zabrocki]

To List--From Sy Zabrocki

Is there such a thing as gold plated strings? Since 1965 I've been tuning a 1923 Schomacker grand which appears to have gold plated strings. All the piano wire appears to have been bathed in gold, including all the wrapped bass strings all the way to and including the hitch pin loops. 

This piano has blued tuning pins with a gold band of 4 coils on each pin. It's kind of a pretty sight as this piano is still very clean at 74 years old. Even the coils are exceptionally neat and very well strung. This Schmomacker is a 5' with a good tone for it's size. 

What other plating process could give this gold look to the strings? If it was brass it would probably be black with corrosion by now. Has anyone else encountered these pianos and does anyone know if it is really gold?

Just this evening I've found one more grand and one upright Schmomacker in my records and I've marked both as having "gold strings."

Sy Zabrocki--RPT