Hi Guys
Ted, that Tech in your pic is a black lacquer finish. I have one and refinished it much the same way with a can of spray lacquer. Not sure how that's going to hold up. If you have any chrome plating companies (auto, motorcycle etc) give them a call about the black chrome or if they can do black nickel as well. I've been interested in that as well but so far no platers handy to where I live. Also look into "powder coating" which puts an extremely hard paintlike finish on metal. It's used on truck sidesteps etc over here.
Good luck.