1951 PE-95K Gen Set - CFR#?

[Peter Phillips]

Not sure if this really fits here but I've ran into some questions. I got this unit in Dec 2015 ( http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=25067 ) and have finally decided to tear into it and fix it up a bit. It's no doubt that it was in a Canadian unit as it's sporting a RCEME rebuild tag on it. I was degreasing and came across a CAR (CFR) on the top tool tray under the cowling. Unfortunately I might have scrubbed too hard or the paint was worn off to begin with but I can't make out all the numbers? What I can kind of make out is 52-1_50_3. Too many numbers right? The data plate shows it was built in Nov 1951 and the serial nummber isn't close to what I can see in the paint. Anyone know where I might find some info on this. I've been trying to crop/re-size pictures but these are the only two that worked out. I'd be more than happy to send better pics via email if that would help.

[Wayne Hingley]

Does anyone know if "non-vehicle" major assets had some other type of numbering system, with more digits than the CFR/CAR system? There must be other examples (or photos) of generators or other assets from the 1950's that might show a similar numbering system.

[Wayne Hingley]

Peter has done an amazing job restoring this generator so far...
Sorry for the sideways photos (from my phone).

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Wayne Hingley

Does anyone know if "non-vehicle" major assets had some other type of numbering system, with more digits than the CFR/CAR system? There must be other examples (or photos) of generators or other assets from the 1950's that might show a similar numbering system.

CAR/CFR was used on vehicles, guns, and any high cost equipment for which tracking was required. I have seen it for certain weapons system. They were always the same format as the usual CFRs.

I would suggest you have overlapping numbers...it looks like some of them are a smaller format than the others.

One of the curators at work mentioned that the tops of every number will be different from the others, so you may be able to decipher the numbers using that technique.

[Peter Phillips]

You know Rob you might be on to something. Maybe the last '3' was a leftover from a previous paint job making the CFR 52-4_503? Nice catch! Would an example of the stencils your curator mentioned be available to look at?

[rob love]

It is not one particular set of stencils. It is that for every set of zero to 9, no two tops of the numbers will be the same within the same stencil set.

I do have many many stencil sets myself, but sorting through them to try and find your particular numbers may not work out. One thing about stencils though, whether they are cut into cardboard or are the brass slide-together sets, they will all be inline with each other. Yours are not which is what leads me to think that you have overlapping stencils.

[Wayne Hingley]

I just noticed the number on the generator box from Derk's post: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=24196

The number on his generator box also appears to indicate the year (two digits) followed by a six digit identification number. Is it possible that generators and/or other assets were identified in a six digit numbering system, rather than the usual five digit CFR series? The ID numbers from both Peter's generator and Derk's generator box begins with a "1".

Does anyone else have a generator with a six digit ID number?

[Peter Phillips]

Well that is interesting for sure, nice find Wayne! I guess it's back on the hunt for info.

[Peter Phillips]

Might be worth posting on this forum that deals with Military generators https://www.smokstak.com/forum/

The picture of the 6 digit CFR couldn't have come at a better time too! I've been trying to wrap my head around the assumption that my generator had 6 numbers versus the regular 5?

[rob love]

I saw that number on Derk's box and also thought of this thread. More likely a serial number than a CFR number. I do not recall any Onan generators of 1974 manufacture in the CF.

[Peter Phillips]

Could records still exist in the EME world Rob? I've tried getting some answers from the HQ & Sigs museum curator in Kingston ON but they haven't responded to either email I sent; rather disappointing. I also remember proper 5 digit CFR#'s on auxiliary equipment like the second engine on a runway snowblower and such. Now mystery Onan's, the plot thickens!