A process for coating on a fibrous glass substrate an amorphous glass metal coating consisting essentially of nickel-phosphorus, under conditions free of current, which comprises treating the fibrous glass substrate with an aliphatic alcohol having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and subsequently with an aqueous solution of Sn Cl.sub.2, in the presence of hydrochloric acid, activating said substrate with a solution of palladium chloride in aqueous hydrochloric acid and keeping it in a bath comprising, as a nickel containing component, nickel ammonium sulfate or a mixture of nickel sulfate and nickel ammonium sulfate, in combination with sodium hypophosphite, an alkali metal salt of at least one organic acid having a low molecular weight, a mineral acid, in an amount sufficient to adjust the pH to 3 to 4, and optionally one or more organic or inorganic metal-deposition regulating agents, at a temperature between 55 degrees Celsius and 70 degrees Celsius.