Major Bummer Alan! I have had those step plates on my '48 for about 10 years now and they are beginning to go dull like yours. I didn't want to drill holes in my running boards so I stuck the plates on with construction adhesive, then I cut the heads off of stainless steel screws and glued them (just the heads) into the the hole recesses. I know, sounds funky but they look good and have stayed there perfectly fine and when I decide I don't want the plates anymore, there won't be any holes in the running board. I guess the adhesive has acted like a barrier to prevent the 'battery effect'. I sure would like to see your new stainless plates once you have them fabricated.
Cheers,
littlebuddie
