405 Lexington Avenue
Architect William Van Alen (1928-1930)
In the August 1930 edition of the American Architect and Architecture, Ernest Eberhard wrote of Oscar Bach’s chrome nickel steel designs in the Chrysler building. In the article Eberhard noted the properties of the chrome nickel steel as highly workable with the additional benefits of light-weight, high tensile strength and high resistance to corrosion. Chrome nickel steel was a modern alloy befitting to the cutting edge image of Walter P. Chrysler’s tower. Oscar Bach commissioned to execute the show windows, directory board and radiator grilles in the main lobby of the Chrysler building using this celebrated material. For his board and window crests Bach worked the modern alloy into an elegant Deco-Gothic crown using time-honored, traditional craft techniques (cutting, engraving, forging, welding, and assembling). The radiator grilles show Bach’s interest in the bold geometric styling of Art Deco offering an amalgam of linear, diagonal, vertical, triangular and square forms. A final stroke of élan, all surfaces of the lobby elements were given a gutsy, gleaming, high polish finish to show off their contemporary flash.
Chrysler
Building Show Window & Radiator Grille of Chrome Nickel Steel
Chrysler
Building Directory Board of Chrome Nickel Steel
Chrysler
Building Radiator Grilles of Chrome Nickel Steel
