Data plate stamping

[George McKenzie]

Thanks Hanno This is what Robert suggested as he cannot do the reverse stamping like the original plates was done If we can get a set of stampes we would have to make a die to punch out the plates and also put the hi border around the plate and two holes at the same time .Then build a gig to do the stamping . I estimate there would be about 100 plates made with these tools .

[chris vickery]

If you require a gang set of numbers/alpha most custom shops can make them as well. This of course would only be for plates with a duplicate number, serials would require change overs obviously.

[rob love]

The term for raised lettering is embossing, whereas stamped into the metal is impressing. Here is a link to a company that sells hand operated machines to do either: http://shortorderproducts.com/Emboss...Mtl_Emboss.htm

I have linked to their embossing machines, which appear to be strictly for the tape style like Hanno has shown. They have an interesting press for doing impressed lettering but unfortunately that is not the style we are after.

Perhaps contacting this company might lead to something, but the end results, looking att the price of the machinery, will not likely be cheap.

I also found a link to a company in the UK that embosses serials etc for vehicle data and line production plates. http://www.classic-plates.com/
The carrier plates almost look like something they might be able to replicate.

[George McKenzie]

I tride a addressograft" like what Rob showed" that the hospital used .It only did the small letters and was hard to line up what you wanted to copy Most of the ones I talked to Said ya OK .till it came to doing what we wanted then it was a different storey .If we could get the stamps for letters and numbers in two sizes 1/4" and 1/8 " We could machine the rest needed for making these plates .

[Jack Innes]

Here is what the actual machine used by GM to make vin plates for years looks like. The close up shows the male & female dies & the method of holding them. The picture in better focus is a second, older machine showing the mechanism more clearly.

[George McKenzie]

That's what we need I wonder if it has the two sizes of numbers ? Where could we get the use of this machine ? Would there be one in a museum?

[rob love]

I see the name addressograph on the machine. A google search of that name opens a whole plethora of leads. However, I suspect that the main plate may have been stamped and just the unique data would have been added with a machine like this. I don't think this machine would do the raised borders.

An Ebay search will also net a variety of these machines at reasonable prices, but some research will be needed to figure out which one is best for the job.