Hi, Your comments are always most welcome
dechroming could be tricky. I would suggest some experiments with reverse electro-plating but the resulting solution will be very nasty indeed.
When in one of the more industrial areas of the canal system there should be an electro platers within shouting distance of the canal who will probably be able to help.
BTW - as it is a spotlight, is the beam wide enough to light up the sides of the tunnel?
And another thing - convert it back to 12v - it will cost you less to run (inverters are horribly inefficient)
What ever you decide to do to with the lamp it will look spectacular on the front of NP.
Hi Sue, been reading your blog for a while now....great blog. Your lamp looks great....we've got a similar one ourselves and got ours dechromed by Brian at Procast. He did a really fantastic job....it may be a bit of a treck for you (Doncaster area, just off A1) but if you can get the lamp over there it will be worth it. You can check out the pics of ours at www.derwent6.blogspot.com and email us if you would like Brian's contact details.
Alison & Del 
Ron,
Thanks for the info.. yes we are aware of the hazzards of de-chroming this thing, so will not be attempting it ourselves.. Good idea, I am into google this weekend looking at potential local people to do the business.
Yes it sure will light up my life in a tunnel for sure, just I got to get it right so as not to completely blind a narrowboat coming the other way or I will get shouted at! 
It won't cost anything to run on 240v as the engine will be running if it is on anyway, and yes the inverter will have no problem powering this for free.
Alison,
Many thanks for the information, and yes I would like Brian's contact details so will email you tomorrow.
Goodness Alison, I just looked at your new boat coming together, you must be so excited.. will add you to my list of links if that is OK..
Sue
