Firewall Patent Data plate question

A

Autodave

Member
I was reading a post on the HAMB about data plates and someone commented that there was never a serial number plate put on the body. Is this correct? I have this on my 30:
 
looks like someone took another data plate ,turned it around backward and stamped a model a number on it
no model A ever came with a tag like that
 
Has anyone ever looked up the patents and posted what they are ?

8 of 'em, curious .

I could have a guess and say one of therm is for the gas tank .

Possibly one for the radius rod system ?
 
Autodave said:
I was reading a post on the HAMB about data plates and someone commented that there was never a serial number plate put on the body. Is this correct? I have this on my 30:
Click to expand...

Does this match either your engine number or the number on the chassis?

Joe K
 
Yes, it matches my engine number. Now I am wondering how long ago it was added. I has a lot of patina and they used similar rivets.
 
Autodave said:
I was reading a post on the HAMB about data plates and someone commented that there was never a serial number plate put on the body. Is this correct? I have this on my 30:
Click to expand...

Autodave said:
Yes, it matches my engine number. Now I am wondering how long ago it was added. I has a lot of patina and they used similar rivets.
Click to expand...

The engine number on the plate is for an engine that was assembled 9-27-1928. I believe that the plate was added when the original engine was replaced and the owner needed a matching number for licensing or title transfer reasons.
 
If that is an original data plate, turned around, I wonder just what the other side might look like? Good, Bad, Ugly???? Hmmmmmmmm.

Is the engine number pad smooth as a baby's butt OR does it have the texture of the rest of the engine block? If smooth, more than likely the engine has been restamped.

Just how long is the engine number pad?

Pluck
 
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I have a date plate that looks like this. It came attached to a 1931 68B Cabriolet that was shipped back to the US from Findland. The stamped numbers along with the " A " matched the serial numbers on the frame. The frame numbers were stamped on the side rail and not in the usual place on the top rail. This auto was shipped back in the late 1950's. There is no evidence that it was a patent plate turned around and reused and it also has the patent plate attached to the firewall.
 
Steve Plucker said:
If that is an original data plate, turned around, I wonder just what the other side might look like? Good, Bad, Ugly???? Hmmmmmmmm.

Is the engine number pad smooth as a baby's butt OR does it have the texture of the rest of the engine block? If smooth, more than likely the engine has been restamped.

Just how long is the engine number pad?

Pluck
Click to expand...

It is fairly rough, about 2 3/4 in length. It does not have a star or anything else.
 
If that is an original number to the block,....it will be a 5 main cam block.
Also, the pads at the back of the block, were the flywheel housing / throttle
assemble bolts,...will have round pads.
 
I can see the star at the end of the number, but it must be very faint at the front of the number. Try using a magnifying glass to see if you can make it out.

BTW, I like the real glass rectangular magifying glass that Harbor Freight sells for about $2.
 
Tom, you are correct (good eye!) they are both there. I just never looked hard enough. Thanks for all of the replies, I am learning a lot.
 
RandyinUtah said:
I have a date plate that looks like this. It came attached to a 1931 68B Cabriolet that was shipped back to the US from Findland. The stamped numbers along with the " A " matched the serial numbers on the frame. The frame numbers were stamped on the side rail and not in the usual place on the top rail. This auto was shipped back in the late 1950's. There is no evidence that it was a patent plate turned around and reused and it also has the patent plate attached to the firewall.
Click to expand...

You are quite right, many European Countries required engine & I.D. info on attached plates from new. I bet the plate looks different to the one pictured however. There are some photos of 1932 I.D. plates on Scandinavian sold Fords in the 1932 Ford Book, published by Early V8 Club.
That Cabriolet of yours may well have started life at the UK factory which shipped knocked down cars to Europe.
 
Its a 1928 engine in a 1930 car
it would not come from the factory like that
the tag on the 30 firewall indicates the 1928 engine serial number
just not possible
 
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