Not gold, not chrome-plated. Brass. I've seem them on DBs of course, & recall seeing lots of brass parts(bridges, nuts)on 70s basses, particularly Alembics. I'm slowly amassing parts for a P-clone rebuild/mod project, and want all brass hardware. I just snagged an old Mighty Mite bridge & brass nuts are pretty common, but not so much on tuners. I'll go gold if I have to, but thought I'd tap the collective mind here first. :)

Brass would be too soft for the stresses under which tuners work.

Bronze would work, but not brass.

I don't doubt that someone has tried it, but the lack of availability tells the story.

Brass would be too soft for the stresses under which tuners work.

Bronze would work, but not brass.

I don't doubt that someone has tried it, but the lack of availability tells the story.
this.

also, those would make for some heavy tuners, making neck dive an issue.